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1962: Published The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
The book covered several important philosophical points. This presentation will focus on the creation of and shift in scientific paradigms. Kuhn defined a paradigm as a bundle of beliefs. A paradigm is so different from prior thinking that it attracts an unwavering group of disciples but also so vague that it opens the opportunity for future research. A paradigm puts facts into context, causing scientists to prioritize some facts over others (Orman, 47, 49-50). -
1962: Published The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Unlike the Whig theory of cumulative scientific progress, Kuhn theorized that scientific discovery occurred in phases (Orman, 48). First, researchers interpret observations of the same phenomena differently from other researchers in the early stages of a field of scientific inquiry. Each group of adherents to a given explanation forms a “school of thought” (Changing Minds, 4-5). -
1962: Published The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
In the preparadigmatic stage, each school emphasizes a different set of facts and tries to convince others that its interpretation is better than that of its competitors (Changing Minds, 4-5). Eventually, enough influential scientists adhere to one the thinking of one school that a paradigm emerges. Practitioners are so committed to the paradigm that they cannot think of alternative explanations for phenomena (Orman, 49-50). -
1962: Published The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Science students are taught the paradigm as the only correct way of thinking about a subject. Scientists resolve most anomalies that arise by either slightly adjusting the paradigm or correcting for errors made during their experiments. This period is called “normal science” (Orman, 49-50). -
1962: Published The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
However, eventually too many anomalies arise and they cannot be easily explained. Scientists begin to question the assumptions that they made under the old paradigm and alternative paradigms emerge. Scientists gather around each paradigm, including the old one; this is called a crisis period. A scientific revolution occurs as one paradigm that adequately accounts for previously-unexplainable anomalies emerges as the predominant one, and the cycle begins again (Orman, 49-50). -
Kuhn on Scientific Revolutions (Lecture 7, part 2 of 2)
Kuhn on Scientific Revolutions (Lecture 7, part 2 of 2) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alghcrRaPIY) -
Works Cited
Changing Minds. “Kuhn's paradigm.” http://changingminds.org/explanations/research/articles/kuhn_paradigm.htm. 7 December 2019.
Orman, Turkan Firinci. “‘Paradigm’ as a Central Concept in Thomas Kuhn’s Thought.” International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, vol. 6, no. 10, October 2016, 47-52. http://www.ijhssnet.com/journals/Vol_6_No_10_October_2016/8.pdf. 7 December 2019. -
Works Cited (Continued)
The Famous People. “Thomas Kuhn Biography.” https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thomas-kuhn-3455.php. 7 December 2019.