Images

Thomas Kuhn 18 July 1922 - 17 June 1996

By sully1234

  • Time at Harvard

    Kuhn started his time at Harvard in 1940. He had a hard time choosing what he was going to study because he had interest for both math and physics. He finally decided on physics and ended up taking a philosophy class that lasted the whole year. He never took any other philosophy classes though even though he wanted to. While at Harvard he could not defend his pacifism beliefs and had a radical transformation and became an interventionist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C99X-Ye-GB0

  • Changing career paths

    Kuhn enjoyed the field of physics but it did not satisfy him and fulfill him. Kuhn changed his path to become a philosopher when he realized he had to use assumptions to read Aristotle's Physics (James A. Marcum). He decided on doing history of science focusing on philosophy because he believed that philosophy was the way to the truth.
    Marcum, J.A. (no date) Thomas S. Kuhn (1922-1996), Internet encyclopedia of philosophy. Available at: https://iep.utm.edu/kuhn-ts/ (Accessed: 06 August 2023).

  • The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

    Kuhn got his first book published in 1962 through 1970. This book was called "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions". In this book, Kuhn showed a new look at science. The difference hinged on a shift from a logical analysis and an explanation of scientific knowledge as a finished product to a historical narration and description of scientific practices by which a community of practitioners produces scientific knowledge (James S. Marcum).
    Marcum, J.A. Internet encyclopedia of philosophy.

  • After The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

    In 1983 Thomas Kuhn became the Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Philosophy. His book was a stepping stone for the study of sciences such as sociology and anthropology of science. Kuhn did not accept that his book did this and he would call it the historical philosophy of science. While he was a professor his work focused on being historical or philosophical.
    Marcum, J.A. Thomas S. Kuhn (1922-1996), Internet encyclopedia of philosophy.https://iep.utm.edu/kuhn-ts/ (Accessed: 06 August 2023).