Thomas Kuhn

  • Beginning

    Thomas Kuhn was born in 1922 and throughout his life has become one of the most influential Philosophers of his time. He has published multiple books in regard to his theories and brought the history of science together with philosophy. Many people today look at his work and study what he has started.
  • Graduation

    This year, Kuhn has graduated from Harvard "summa cum laude." Once he graduates he decided to stay for further research in radar, but then later moved to Europe.
  • Degree

    Obtained Masters Degree in Philosophy
  • Highest Degree

    Kuhn had obtained a doctorate in physics "concerning an application of quantum mechanics to solid state physics." A huge achievement for him that would open many doors. He was also elected to a society in Harvard called Society of Fellows.
  • Teaching

    This year, Kuhn had taught undergrad classes dealing with historical case studies. This would allow Kuhn to study and understand historical texts in detail. Over his time in teaching, he had become fascinated and familiar with Aristotle's work.
  • Change in Teachings

    Kuhn had taught the undergrad class about 6 years and during this time was offered a professorship for general education and history of science. He got into a few areas including early thermodynamics and astronomy.
  • First Publication

    This year Kuhn has published his first book called "The Copernican Revolution." This examined the theories between our model of the Universe of having Earth stationary, to it actually being Heliocentric or Sun is the center.
  • Philosophy

    Became a full professor at University of California. Kuhn had developed his interest in philosophy here, which he would later succeed in.
  • Controversy

    Kuhn published his famous book, "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions." He explains his theory of incommensurability where with every scientific revolution that happens, it can not compare to the previous one. These happen with shifts or paradigms, which is due to a loss of trust in the Science at the current timeperiod.
  • Transfer

    Kuhn had left Berkeley during this time (University of California) and went to Princeton University as a professor on History of Science and Philosophy.
  • Monumental Event

    This year Kuhn had a big event promoting his work and getting his name out in the Philosophical world "An international Colloquium in the Philosophy of Science was held at Bedford College, London." (Stanford. Encyclopedia) He was supposed to debate someone else, but they fell ill, leaving Kuhn to describe only his work.
  • Collection

    A bunch of Kuhns's essays were published this year titled "The Essential Tension" due to his earlier writings. In these, he illuminates the importance of science having tradition.
  • Published

    Kuhn published another book detailing on history of Quantum Mechanics called " Black-body theory and the Quantum Discontinuity."
  • Named

    Named "Lawerence S. Rockefeller Professor of Philosophy at MIT." (Stanford Encyclopedia)
  • Ending

    He died this year, but was in the middle of important work where he was building a new concept of change in science and developmental psychology.
  • References

    Bird, Alexander, "Thomas Kuhn", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2022 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2022/entries/thomas-kuhn/.