-
Thomas Kuhn Born
Thomas Kuhn was born on July 18th, 1922, in Cincinnati Ohio. His parents, Samuel L., and Minette Kuhn were both affluent and well-educated individuals. Kuhn’s father, Samuel L. was a proficient Hydraulic Engineer and prestigious scholar who participated in training at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before serving in WWI. Kuhn’s Mother Minette was a liberal scholar. -
Period: to
The Life of Thomas Kuhn
This Timeline accounts for Thomas Kuhn's early childhood, life, career, and contributions to science philosophy. -
Thomas Kuhn Early Education 1927-1940
Thomas Kuhn’s early education began in Wakefield, Massachusetts at Lincoln School in 1927. Here he learned to think independently. A few years later, Kuhn left Lincoln to attend Hessian Hills School where he developed an understanding of pacifism under his teacher’s guidance. He later attended Yale Taft School in Connecticut during his last years in high school. Kuhn later gained recognition from the National Honor Society and earned the Alumni Rensselaer Award in 1940. -
Thomas Kuhn Harvard University 1940-1943
In 1940, Kuhn attended Harvard University. Here he began his studies of classical philosophy, studying Aristotle, Plato, and Descartes. Kuhn later found interest in physics and mathematics and eventually settled on physics as his established Major. A year later, following the events of Pearl Harbor in 1941, Kuhn expedited his studies in physics and developed a sense of interventionism in contrast to pacifism. In 1943, Kuhn graduated from Harvard University summa cum laude (Highest Distinction). -
Thomas Kuhn's Teachings at Harvard University 1949-1957
Kuhn continued his studies in philosophy and physics at Harvard University. Following his graduation in 1943, he earned his Master’s in physics in 1946 and his doctorate in 1949. Kuhn later began teaching Humanities at Harvard alongside James. B Conant. Kuhn later developed an interest in studying science history by examining the works and texts of the classical theorist Aristotle. In 1957, Kuhn wrote his approach to scientific revolutions, The Copernican Revolution. -
Thomas Kuhn (The Lowell Lectures) 1951
Following Kuhn's teachings at Harvard University and his established interest in Science history and philosophy, Kuhn was invited by the Lowell Institute to lecture. Kuhn provided his criticism of traditional scientific teachings that failed to explain the creative process by which the theories were obtained. His lectures revealed a separate method by which the explanation and understanding of how scientific theories were generated were employed.
This became known as a Paradigm. -
The Function of Measurement in Modern Physical Science 1961
Thomas Kuhn’s addition to his philosophical writings emphasized the importance of quantitative data in epistemology in the pursuit of scientific knowledge. As well as the supportive factors that measurements provide in the validation of theories and that this data served as observational evidence. -
Thomas Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions was one of the major contributions that resulted from Thomas Kuhn’s teachings at Berkeley University in 1962. Kuhn’s works defined the concept of a paradigm and that scientific advancements often occurred in the midst of a crisis and that it was the scientist’s objective to solve this crisis. Furthermore, in the event that a crisis was solved, a scientific revolution would occur. -
Paradigm Concept (Video Explanation)
Please copy and past the URL link below and search. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn8cCDtVd5w&ab_channel=SprightlyPedagogue -
Thomas Kuhn's The Essential Tension 1977
Following the creation of The Structure of Scientific Revolutions in 1962, Thomas Kuhn compiled a series of studies and texts to expand upon the paradigm concept in his work, The Essential Tension highlights the importance of the conflict between traditional science and modern science. Moreover, Classical theories are used as a model for present and future theories to advance upon. Kuhn’s writings also covered anomalies and how the scientific community progresses from tension. -
Thomas Kuhn Black Body Theory and Quantum Discontinuity 1978
Kuhn’s studies in physics resulted in the development of a new theory based on Max Planck’s work in 1978. From this, Kuhn was able to conclude that energy was not continuous but limited to a fixed set of values. Kuhn later revealed Quantum discontinuity which symbolized the transition of the classical theory of physics into quantum mechanics. As a result, he was able to explain the paradigm shift of classical to quantum theories from black body theory. -
Thomas Kuhn Death June 17, 1996
Thomas Kuhn was diagnosed with Lung cancer in 1994. During this time, he continued his studies in philosophy and engaged in discussions with scholars to promote his concepts further. Kuhn's health eventually declined leading to his passing on June 17, 1996.