Kuhnian scientific revolutions

Thomas Kuhn was a historian of science responsible for the view that science comprises periods of normal science dominated by paradigms which are periodically overthrown in scientific revolutions. Paradigms cannot, however, be rationally compared because they determine the meanings of scientific terms and thus a paradigm change changes the meanings of the scientific claims that might serve as tests. If Kuhn’s account is correct, there is no space for a philosophy of science which sets out a prescriptive account of scientific method (that is, one that says how science ought to proceed). Kuhn encourages philosophy to give way to history and sociology of science (so accounts of how science does actually proceed).But is his claim that one cannot compare theories across a change of paradigm plausible? (Both of these readings are now on WebCT)

• • Kuhn, T.S. (1962) The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Chicago: University of Chicago Press chapter 10

  • Kuhn, T.S. (1999) ‘Logic of Discovery or Psychology of Research?’ in I Lakatos and A Musgrave (eds) Criticism and the Growth of Knowledge, Cambridge: CUP pp1-23

A very helpful general summary (also now on WebCT) is:

• • Kuhn, T.S. (1962) The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Chicago: University of Chicago Press Postscript

Secondary and background reading:

• • Godfrey-Smith, P. (2003) Theory and Reality: an introduction to the philosophy of science, Chicago: University of Chicago Press chapters 5-6

  • Chalmers, A.F. (1999) What is this thing called Science? 3^rd Edition, Milton Keynes: Open University Press chapters 7 & 8

  • Ladyman, J (2002) Understanding Philosophy of Science, London: Routledge chapter 4

  • Newton-Smith, P.H. (1981) The Rationality of Science, London: Routledge chapter 5

  • O’Hear, A. (1989) An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science, Oxford: Oxford University Press chapter ?

A helpful summary is here.

This session's slides are here.

Remarks on Kuhnian scientific revolutions.

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