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Thomas S. Kuhn was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on 18 Jul 1922. He was the first of two children of Samuel L. and Minette Kuhn. His father was a hydraulic engineer, and his mother was liberally educated person (Marcum). Reference:
Marcum, James. “Thomas S. Kuhn (1922—1996).” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Internet encyclopedia of philosophy, iep.utm.edu/kuhn-ts/. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023. -
Thomas S. Kuhn began attending Harvard University in 1940, where he began showing and interests in philosophy. In 1943, he graduated with a B.S. in physics and joined the Radio Research Laboratory, researching radar counter technology. He continued his work in England while continuing his studies in philosophy (Marcum). Reference:
Marcum, James. “Thomas S. Kuhn (1922—1996).” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Internet encyclopedia of philosophy, iep.utm.edu/kuhn-ts/. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023. -
In 1945, Thomas S. Kuhn returned to Harvard. In 1947, while studying Aristotle's writing, Kuhn experience's an epiphany that launches him into philosophy. In 1948, Kuhn began his journey into philosophy by joining the Harvard Society of Fellows. In 1949, he earned his Ph.D. in physics. Reference:
Lotha, Gloria. “Thomas S. Kuhn.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, inc., 20 July 1998, www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-S-Kuhn. -
In 1962, he published his book "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions", where he argued that scientific truth was not built on truth alone but also on the current understandings of the world and introduced the idea of paradigm shifts. (Jerden). Paradigm Shift:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn8cCDtVd5w Jerden, James. “Thomas Kuhn | Biography, Philosophy & Impact | Study.Com.” Who Was Thomas Kuhn?, Study.com, 17 Feb. 2022, study.com/learn/lesson/thomas-kuhn-biography-philosophy-impact.html. -
Following his book's publication, one of the most influential pieces of literature about history and science. Kuhn began teaching philosophy of science at Princeton University in 1964. From 1979-1991, he taught philosophy at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 17 Jun 1996 he passed away (Jerden). Jerden, James. “Thomas Kuhn | Biography, Philosophy & Impact | Study.Com.” Who Was Thomas Kuhn?, Study.com, 17 Feb. 2022, study.com/learn/lesson/thomas-kuhn-biography-philosophy-impact.html.