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Life-Span
References used - Marcum, James A. “Thomas S. Kuhn” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, https://iep.utm.edu/kuhn-ts/#H1. Accessed 9 Apr. 2022. Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Thomas S. Kuhn". Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Jul. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-S-Kuhn. Accessed 9 April 2022. -
Early Life
Was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to Samuel and Minette Kuhn. His father was a hydraulic engineer and his mother well educated. His family was liberal and this was reflected in Kuhn's early education. -
Early Education
Began education at Lincoln School in Manhattan. He learned to think for himself but wasn't the best student. In the second grade, he was not a proficient reader. -
Hessian Hills School
His family moved to Croton-on-Hudson, where he attended Hessian Hills School and learned pacifism. He then attended Yale preparatory school and graduated third in a class of 105 students, which earned him entry into the National Honor Society and the prestigious Rensselaer Alumni Association Medal. -
Harvard College
At Harvard, Khun took a philosophy class where he studied Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Spinoza, Hume, and Kant. He also attended George Sarton’s lectures. -
Physics Major
Khun decided to major in physics. This was his sophomore year at Harvard. During this time, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and due to this, Kuhn started learning electronics. Additionally, due to WW II and Hitler, he changed his views from pacifism to interventionism. -
Graduated Undergrad
He graduated and began research on radar counter technology. He then traveled to England to work for the U.S. Office of Scientific Research and Development, but had doubts whether the physicist work was his calling. Fortunately now had the time to read authors such as Bertrand Russell, P.W. Bridgman, Rudolf Carnap, and Philipp Frank. -
Return to Harvard
After WW2 he returned to Harvard to continue his education and although interested in philosophy, graduated with a master's degree in physics, and in 1949 was awarded a doctorate in physics. -
Conant's Invitation
He continued to have doubts about his career in physics. In 1947 accepted the invitation to be Conant's assistant and undertook research into 17th-century mechanics, which changed his view on science. He realized he wanted to be a philosopher of science. Khun asked to be entered into the Harvard Society of Fellows, where he was influenced by Willard Quine. For the next few years, he studied the humanities of sciences and psychoanalysis. -
Kathryn Muhs
Married Kathryn Muhs. They had two daughters and a son. Kathryn passed away in 1978. -
The Lowell Lectures
In 1950 Khun outlined his conception of science vs. the traditional philosophy of science. He believed that scientists should seek conceptions that allow science to advance. -
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Papers
He wrote three papaers.
"The function of measurement in modern physical science"
- he challenged the view that if one can not measure a phenomenon then it's not scientific
"The Essential Tension"
- introduced normal and extraordinary science
- outlined the term paradigm
"The function of dogma in scientific research"
Introduced, dogmas - what the scientists "expect and what they observe" if expected results are not found, they must struggle to solve the puzzle -
Copernican Revolution Review
Khun examined the Copernican revolution. He found that scientific progress is not linear but rather there are "contingencies that can divert and forestall the progress of science" (Khun n.d.) Kuhn, T. S. (1957) The Copernican Revolution: Planetary Astronomy in the Development of Western Thought. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. -
Berkeley
His book on the Copernican evolution was too popular and he was let go from Harvard, but through connections found a new position at Berkeley University of California. -
The Function of Measurement...
Published in 1961 -
Kuhn, T. S. The Function of Measurement in Modern Physical Science. Isis, 52 (1961): 161–193. -
Structure
The Structure was published in 1962 and was a collection of his work.
"Structure was a new image of science. In short, it was a shift from the subject (the product) to the verb (to produce)."
"illustrated schematically, as follows: pre-paradigm science → normal science→extraordinary science→new normal science."
(Marcum n.d.)
Kuhn, T. S. (1962) The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. -
Dogma
Khun outlined the function of dogma in scientific research. It was published in 1963.
Kuhn, T. S. (1963) ‘The function of dogma in scientific research’, in A.C. Crombie, ed. Scientific Change: Historical Studies in the Intellectual, Social and Technical Conditions for Scientific Discovery and Technical Invention, From Antiquity to the Present. New York: Basic Books, pp. 347-69. -
Revised Structure
In 1970 a revised Structure was published, unchanged except for the addition of a section where Khun addressed the criticism. Kuhn, T. S. (1970) The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (2nd edition). Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. -
The Essential Tension
The Essential Tension was published.
Kuhn, T. S. (1977) The Essential Tension: Selected Studies in Science Tradition and Change. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. -
M.I.T. Linguistics and Philosophy
In 1979 Khun started at M.I.T., and in 1983 became Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Philosophy. There he made arguments that his work, Structure, should be "either historical or philosophical". He communicated that in Essential Tension. (Marcum n.d.) -
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Evolutionary Philosophy
Khun shifted his focus to the evolutionary philosophy of science and the lexicon notion. He wrote "Words and Worlds: An Evolutionary View of Scientific Development."
"In sum, the book’s aim was certainly to address the philosophical issues left over from Structure, but more importantly, it was to resolve the problems generated by a historical philosophy of science."
(Marcum n.d.) -
Remarried
After his first wife passed away, he married Jehane Barton Burns three years later -
Kuhnfest
A thank you conference in honor of Kuhn's contributions to science. -
Retirement
He retired in 1991 and became an emeritus professor at MIT. -
Lung Cancer
Became sick at 72. -
Death
Khun changed the philosophy of science. He received numerous awards and honorary degrees from different Universities. He was an amazing professor. He passed away in June 17, 1996