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The birth of Thomas Kuhn
Thomas Kuhn was born on July 18, 1922 on Cincinnati, Ohio. -
Early Life
Thomas Kuhn attended private schools from Kindergarten through High School. He graduated from The Taft School in 1940. -
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Harvard University
While attending Harvard University, Kuhn earned his bachelor's Degree in Physics in 1943, his Master's degree in 1946, and his Ph.D. in 1949. He also taught history of science from 1948-1956. -
The Coppernican Revolution
In 1957, Kuhn published The Copernican Revolution, which analyzed Copernicus' Heliocentric theory and contrasted it to Geocentric theory to show the scientific revolution. Kuhn's research of scientific revolutions' historical context and paradigm shifts provided the basis for his later work on the structure of scientific revolutions. Brush, S. G., Osler, M. J., & Spencer, J. B. (2020, June 24). Copernican Revolution | History, Science, & Impact. Encyclopedia Britannica. -
The Structure of Scientific Revolution
In 1962, Thomas Kuhn released "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions," where he presented the notion of "paradigm shifts" as a key element in the advancement of science. He contended that these shifts occur when a new theory or framework arises that is fundamentally different from the previous theory, resulting in a profound transformation in scientific thinking.
Kuhn, Thomas S. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. The University of Chicago Press, 2015. -
The Functions of Dogma in Scientific Research
Thomas Kuhn published "The Functions of Dogma in Scientific Research," where he proposed that dogma plays a crucial role in scientific research by providing a framework for inquiry and guiding the direction of scientific investigation. -
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Princeton University
From 1964-1979, Kuhn taught Philosophy of Science at Princeton University. Thomas Kuhn (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). (2018, October 31). -
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Kuhn taught Philosophy of Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology until he retired in 1992. Thomas Kuhn (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). (2018, October 31). -
George Sarton Medal
Thomas Kuhn was awarded the George Sarton medal for his works on the history and philosophy of science. Thomas Kuhn (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). (2018, October 31). -
Diagnosed with Lung Cancer
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Death of Thomas Kuhn
Thomas Kuhn died on June 17, 1996, at the age of 73 from lung cancer. To this day, His groundbreaking contributions to philosophy of science are still recognized and studied by scholars and researchers worldwide.