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The Life of Thomas Kuhn
He is one of the most influential philosophers of science of the twentieth century. His contribution to the philosophy of science marked not only a break with several key positivist doctrines, but also inaugurated a new style of philosophy of science that brought it closer to the history of science. Bird, Alexander. “Thomas Kuhn.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2018, plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/#LifeCare. -
Birth of Thomas Kuhn
Thomas Samuel Kuhn was born on July 18, 1922 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Bird, Alexander. “Thomas Kuhn.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2018, plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/#LifeCare. -
Bachelor's Degree
Kuhn graduated from Harvard summa cum laude. Bird, Alexander. “Thomas Kuhn.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2018, plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/#LifeCare. -
Master's Degree
Kuhn gained his Master's Degree in physics. Bird, Alexander. “Thomas Kuhn.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2018, plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/#LifeCare. -
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Marriage to Kathryn Muhs
Thomas Kuhn married Kathryn Muhs in 1948. She typed his PhD thesis. They ended up having two daughters named Sarah and Elizabeth and son named Nathaniel. The couple divorced in 1978. “Thomas Kuhn.” Prabook.com, prabook.com/web/thomas.kuhn/311102. Accessed 10 Apr. 2022. -
PhD
Kuhn achieved his Doctorate in Physics (concerning an application of quantum mechanics to solid state physics). Bird, Alexander. “Thomas Kuhn.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2018, plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/#LifeCare. -
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Harvard University
During this timeframe at Harvard University, Kuhn taught a class in science for undergraduates in humanities. Bird, Alexander. “Thomas Kuhn.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2018, plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/#LifeCare. -
Guggenheim Fellow
Thomas Kuhn was awarded the Guggenheim Fellow in 1954 for field of study within History of Science and Technology. “Thomas S. Kuhn.” John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, www.gf.org/fellows/all-fellows/thomas-s-kuhn. Accessed 10 Apr. 2022. -
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University of California
Kuhn began his job at UC Berkeley in 1956. In 1961 Kuhn became a full professor at the University of California at Berkeley, having moved there in 1956 to take up a post in history of science, but in the philosophy department. This enabled him to develop his interest in the philosophy of science. Bird, Alexander. “Thomas Kuhn.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2018, plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/#LifeCare. -
The Copernican Revolution
With a constant keen awareness of the inseparable mixture of its technical, philosophical, and humanistic elements, he displays the full scope of the Copernican Revolution as simultaneously an episode in the internal development of astronomy, a turning point in the evolution of scientific thought, and a crisis in Western man’s concept of his relation to the universe and to God. “The Copernican Revolution — Thomas S. Kuhn.” Www.hup.harvard.edu, www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674171039. -
Full Professor
Kuhn was promoted to a full professor at University of California at Berkeley. However, he was a full professor only within the History department. Members of philosophy department voted to deny him promotion in their department which angered Kuhn.
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/#LifeCarehttp://www.timetoast.com Kuhn, Thomas S. | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. iep.utm.edu/kuhn-ts/ -
The Structure of Scientific Revolution
Kuhn discusses the development of science quite unlike any other. Indeed before Kuhn there was little by way of a considered, explained account of scientific change. Instead, there was a conception of how science ought to develop that was a by-product of the prevailing philosophy, as well as a popular view of scientific progress. “Thomas Kuhn.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2018, plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/#LifeCare. -
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Princeton University
Princeton University made Kuhn an offer to join its faculty. The university had recently inaugurated a history and philosophy of science program. He decided to accept the offer and joined its faculty in 1964. He became the program’s director in 1967 and the following year Princeton appointed him the Moses Taylor Pyne Professor of History. He remained there until 1979. Kuhn, Thomas S. | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. iep.utm.edu/kuhn-ts/. -
The Essential Tension
This was a collection of Thomas Kuhn’s essays in the philosophy and history of science that were collaborated together and officially published. Bird, Alexander. “Thomas Kuhn.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2018, plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/#LifeCare. -
Black-Body Theory and the Quantum Discontinuity
Kuhn’s work turned toward the history of quantum theory. According to classical physics a particle could possess any energy in a continuous range and if it changes energy it does so in a continuous fashion, possessing at some point in time every energy between the initial and final states. Modern quantum theory denies both these principles. “Thomas Kuhn.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2018, plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/#LifeCare. -
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Kuhn joined MIT in 1979 from Princeton University. At MIT, his work has centered on cognitive and linguistic processes that bear on the philosophy of science, including the influence of language on the development of science. He was the chair's first holder. Kuhn retired in 1991 and took the rank of professor emeritus. “Thomas S. Kuhn - the Tech.” Tech.mit.edu, tech.mit.edu/V116/N28/kuhn.28n.html. Accessed 10 Apr. 2022. -
Marriage to Second Wife
Thomas Kuhn married Jehane Barton Burnes at the age of 59. Thomas Kuhn - Biography, Facts and Pictures. www.famousscientists.org/thomas-kuhn. Accessed 10 Apr. 2022. -
George Sarton Medal
The Sarton Medal, the most prestigious award of the History of Science Society, honors George Sarton, the founder of Isis and one of the founders of the modern phase in the history of science. It has been awarded annually since 1955 to an outstanding historian of science, selected from the international scholarly community. The medal honors a scholar for lifetime scholarly achievement. “Sarton Medal-History of Science Society.” History of Science Society Online, hssonline.org/page/sartonmedal. -
Laurence S. Rockefeller Professor
Thomas Kuhn was named Laurence S. Rockefeller Professor of Philosophy at MIT. This is typically presented for Professors who are distinguished for their teachings. Bird, Alexander. “Thomas Kuhn.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2018, plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/#LifeCare. -
The Trouble with the Historical Philosophy of Science
Kuhn derides those who take the view that in the ‘negotiations’ that determine the accepted outcome of an experiment, all that counts are the interests and power relations among the participants. It reflects his own view that the primary determinants of the outcome of a scientific episode are to be found within science. “Thomas Kuhn.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2018, plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/#LifeCare. -
Unfortunate Demise
Thomas Kuhn developed Lung Cancer in 1994 which ultimately led to his demise. Bird, Alexander. “Thomas Kuhn.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2018, plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/#LifeCare. -
Death of Thomas Kuhn
Thomas Kuhn died June 17, 1996 in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the age of 73. Bird, Alexander. “Thomas Kuhn.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2018, plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/#LifeCare.
