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Kuhn was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to intellectual, Jewish parents.
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Kuhn became interested in physics and mathematics at the Taft School in Watertown, CT where he graduated in 1940.
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Kuhn earned a BA, MA, and PhD in physics from Harvard University. He attributes his new interests in history and philosophy of science to his academic freedom during this time.
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Kuhn would go on to teach History of Science at Harvard University.
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Kuhn later taught at University of California, Berkeley were he was named Professor of the History of Science. He also taught in the philosophy and history departments
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Kuhn wrote and published his book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions during his time at Berkeley. This book, being his most influential work, greatly outlines the ideas of paradigm shift within scientific inquiry. It also outlines his disagreement with Karl Popper's ideas that "true science" is always critical. Kuhn argues that normal science is largely accepting of the normal science of the time which isn't a bad thing as it does aid in advancement.
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Kuhn later joined M. Taylor Pyne Professor of Philosophy and History of Science at Princeton University and served as the president of the History of Science Society.
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Kuhn joined MIT as the Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Philosophy until 1991.
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Kuhn was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1994 which he died from in 1996. Kuhn is best known for his paradigm shift theory and the way it restructured the historical framing we use for science to this day.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrX6qGjuW54 This video outlines the debate between Kuhn and Popper in regards to critical scientific study.
