-
Period: to
Background
Thomas Kuhn was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. He was the first child of Samuel L. and Minette. His father was a Cincinnati native, while his mother was a New York native. He received his BSc, MSc, and Ph.D. in physics from Harvard College. Kuhn married twice and had five children. He garnered various prizes and distinctions over his career. He received honorary degrees from more than a dozen universities and was a member of the National Academy of Science. He had lung cancer and died in 1996. -
Guggenheim Fellow
Thomas Kuhn was named a Guggenheim Fellow in 1954 (“John Simon Guggenheim Foundation | Thomas S. Kuhn”).
Reference:
“John Simon Guggenheim Foundation | Thomas S. Kuhn.” John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, www.gf.org/fellows/all-fellows/thomas-s-kuhn. Accessed 8 Nov. 2021. -
Period: to
Major accomplishments
1954- Guggenheim Fellow
1982- George Sarton Medal -
The Copernican Revolution
Kuhn argued in The Copernican Revolution that he had discovered a key element of the revolution that previous historians had overlooked: its plurality (Kuhn 54). According to Kuhn, scientists have philosophical and even theological commitments, which are necessary for the justification of scientific knowledge.
Reference
Kuhn, Thomas S. The Copernican Revolution : Planetary Astronomy in the Development of Western Thought. Harvard University Press, 1957. -
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Kuhn contended in this book that science doesn't proceed through the collection of new knowledge in a linear fashion, but rather through periodic revolutions known as "paradigm shifts." In general, science can be divided into three stages. Prescience comes first with a lack of a central paradigm. Then comes "normal science," where scientists use "puzzle-solving" to try to expand the basic paradigm. Finally, a scientific revolution occurs as a new paradigm now has solvedd the previous loopholes. -
Kuhn: Incommensurability
In his book, the structure of scientific revolutions, Kuhn made a dramatic argument on Incommensurability that the history of science depicts conflicting paradigm proponents unable to make total touch with one other's perspectives, resulting in them always speaking at least slightly at cross-purposes. He claimed that it is impossible to comprehend one paradigm by using the mental framework and terminology of another one. -
George Sarton Medal
Thomas Kuhn was awarded George Sarton Medal by the History of Science Society in 1982 (History of Science Society).
Reference
History of Science Society. “Sarton Medal.” History of Science Society, 19 May 2021, hssonline.org/about/honors/sarton-medal. -
Thomas Kuhn Paradigm Shift Award
In honor of the legacy of Thomas Kuhn, the "Thomas Kuhn Paradigm Shift Award" is awarded by the American Chemical Society to speakers who present original views that are at odds with mainstream scientific understanding (“Thomas Kuhn Paradigm Shift Award”).
Reference
“Thomas Kuhn Paradigm Shift Award.” Computers In Chemistry A Division of the American Chemical Society, www.acscomp.org/awards/inactive-awards/thomas-kuhn-paradigm-shift-award. Accessed 8 Nov. 2021. -
Youtube's explanation on Thomas Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
“Thomas Kuhn: The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.” YouTube, uploaded by Then & Now, 27 May 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=L70T4pQv7P8.