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Birth of Thomas Kuhn
On July, 18th, 1922, one of the most influential philosophers of science of the twentieth century, perhaps the most influential., was born in Cincinnati Ohio. -
Early life of Kuhn
Thomas Kuhn graduated from the Taft School in Watertown, CT, in 1940, where he became aware of his interest in mathematics and physics. From there Kuhn obtained his BS degree in physics from Harvard University in 1943, where he also obtained MS and PhD degrees in physics in 1946 and 1949. He later taught a course in the history of science at Harvard from 1948 until 1956. -
The Copernican Revolution
In 1957, Thomas Kuhn wrote his first book, "The Copernican Revolution". In this book, "Kuhn argues that the Ptolemaic system provided broader appeal than a simple astronomical system but also became intertwined in broader philosophical and theological beliefs". -
Paradigm Shifts
In 1962, Kuhn published his second book, "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions". In this book, Thomas Kuhn argued that "paradigms" define scientific research and thought. A " Paradigm" is a "conceptual world-views, that consist of formal theories, classic experiments, and trusted methods. In honor of his legacy, the "Thomas Kuhn Paradigm Shift Award" is awarded by the American Chemical Society to speakers who present original views that are at odds with mainstream scientific understanding. -
The end of Thoman Kuhn
In 1994 Thomas Kuhn was diagnosed with lung cancer. Kuhn later died on June 17th, 1996.