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Birth
Thomas Kuhn was born July 18th, 1922 in Cincinnati, Ohio. -
School
Kindergarten through fifth grade Thomas attended Lincoln Private School in Manhattan where he learned independent thinking, however he was unable to read and write because the school did not practice subjects or fact learning. However at age 7 his father taught him to read and write. -
School Continued
From 6th to 9th grade transferred to a more progressive private school, Hessian Hills School. This is where Thomas's love for mathematics began. However, he left in 1937 after deciding not to join the American Student Union. -
High School
Thomas moved to Solebury School, another private school in Solebury Township Pennsylvania. He completed school however in Taft School, Watertown, Connecticut as a straight A student, and shortly after he was admitted to Harvard University. -
Harvard
Thomas decided to go to Harvard to major in Physics, proving to be harder than he anticipated and he received a C on his first exam, however with some encouragement he realized he had a real future in physics scoring an A by the end of freshman year. In 1943 he recieved a BS in Physics summa cum laude. -
War Work
In 1943, Kuhn joined Research Laboratory's theoretical research group. The group's aim was to devise countermeasures against enemy radar. However he soon transitioned to working at a lab in the United Kingdom. -
Master's Degree
In 1946 Kuhn returned to Harvard for a master's degree in Physics and received a doctorate by 1949. -
History of Science
During a course for undergrads at Harvard, Thomas had a realization attempting to make sense of motion by Aristotle in his Physics.Kuhn became increasingly fascinated by philosophy, believing in it further than physics. This led to some of his most profound contributions to philosophy. -
Copernicus' Revolution
Kuhn began studying philosophy, working towards understanding scientific progress, and began teaching The copernican Revolution, which was the basis for his book published in 1957, claiming that the Copernicus model was inaccurate. -
The Paradigm Shift
In 1962 Kuhn published his most influential work, in his book, "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions."This book provided understanding of paradigm shifts. -
Paradigm Shifts
Thomas Kuhn suggested science as a paradigm. A paradigm shift can be defined as a morph in the underlying and fundamental structure of assumptions. A paradigm is a framework or construct of unwritten laws and systems imposed within existence. A shift occurs when these set of patterns transform and a new paradigm takes place, resulting in a transformed way of functioning. -
The Paradigm Shift
His stance goes against science being a linear development, rather he argues that it does not advance, yet only continuously shifts from one constant construct to another. Kuhn’s interpretation implies that no scientific system is actually closer to truth, just a current paradigm until another takes its place, and will continue to only shift from paradigm to paradigm. -
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
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Princeton and MIT
Kuhn moves to Princeton University as a Professor for the Philosophy and History of Science. -
Marriage
In 1981 at age 59 Kuhn marries, Jehane Burns and in 1991 at age 69 he retired from his career as a professor. -
Death
Thomas Kuhn dies from cancer at age 73 in Cambridge Massachusetts after suffering lung cancer for 2 years. -
Resources
Home. (n.d.). Retrieved November 27, 2020, from https://www.famousscientists.org/thomas-kuhn/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L70T4pQv7P8