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Thomas Kuhn was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in July 18,1922 . His early education at Harvard University laid the foundation for his future contributions to the philosophy of science. Kuhn's interest in the history and philosophy of science was sparked during his graduate studies, shaping his future endeavors. -
1943-1949
Kuhn received his Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Harvard University in 1943, master of Arts degree in physics in 1946 and finally completed his Ph.D. in physics at Harvard University with a dissertation titled "The Cohesive Energy of Monovalent Metals as a Function of Their Electronic Structure in 1949. -
Planetary Astronomy in the Development of Western Thought" is a seminal work by Thomas S. Kuhn, published in 1957. In this book, Kuhn explores the Copernican Revolution, a major shift in scientific understanding that occurred during the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly with the heliocentric model proposed by Nicolaus Copernicus.
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Kuhn's groundbreaking work, "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions," introduced the concept of paradigm shifts. He argued that scientific progress is not gradual but occurs through radical shifts in thinking, challenging the traditional view of cumulative scientific development. This work significantly impacted the philosophy of science, influencing discussions on scientific change.
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Kuhn becomes a professor of philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
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Kuhn's ideas stirred intense debates within the philosophy of science community. Critics and supporters engaged in discussions about the nature of scientific progress and the role of paradigms. Kuhn's work initiated a paradigm shift itself, altering the way scholars approached the philosophy of science.
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Kuhn becomes the Laurence Rockefeller Professor of Philosophy at MIT.
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He served as the President of the Philosophy of Science Association.
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Thomas S. Kuhn was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1994 and passed away in 1996 at Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the age of 73.
Posthumously, "The Road Since Structure: Philosophical Essays, 1970-1993" is published in 2000. -
"The Structure of Scientific Revolutions" (1962)
"The Copernican Revolution: Planetary Astronomy in the Development of Western Thought" (1957)
"The Road Since Structure: Philosophical Essays, 1970-1993" (2000) Reference:
Bird, A. (2018) Thomas Kuhn, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Available at: https://plato.stanford.edu/ENTRIES/thomas-kuhn/
Educational Video Link: Thomas Kuhn's Structure of Scientific Revolutions - Crash Course Philosophy.
Major works: