The Structure of Scientific Revolutions – Thomas S. Kuhn
Scientific revolutions (paradigm shifts) is developmental episodes where old paradigms are
replaced in whole or part by an incompatible (incommensurable) new one.
Kuhn compares scientific revolutions to political revolutions (parallelism/correspondence)
Political revs are inaugurated by a In science, existing paradigms can no
growing sense that political party can no longer function properly in the
longer solve the problems that the party paradigm they have created
had in part created. (malfunction = prerequisite for rev)
1. Political revs aims to change Just like political rev example, the
political institutions in ways that choice between paradigms is
those institutions themselves incompatible. Choice cannot be made
prohibit. based on evaluative procedures of
2. Society is divided in competing normal science (because that in itself
parties (old vs new) = is paradigm dependent).
polarization
3. These parties institutionally Each group uses its own paradigm to
differ and acknowledge that argue in that paradigm’s defense =
there is no supra-institutional circular argument of persuasion.
framework to settle the diff
4. The conflicting parties must
resort to techniques of mass
persuasion (often force)
Note that new phenomenon might emerge w/o reflecting destructively upon any part of
past scientific practice. Compatible relationships between old and new theories can be
conceived
Example: If we discover life on the moon, it would destroy current science. But if we discover
life on other, less known parts of the galaxy it would not conflict too much with
predecessors.
Normal science owes it success to the ability of scientists regularly to select problems that
can be solved with conceptual and instrumental techniques close to those already in
existence.
Normal science needs commitment to a paradigm.
New theories (3 types of phenomena)
1. Already well explained by existing paradigms, seldom point of departure for
theory construction.
2. Nature of theory is indicated by existing paradigms but details can only be
understood through further theory articulation (articulate instead of invent).
3. When the articulation of (2) fails, it is the recognized anomalies that stubbornly
refuse to be assimilated in the existing paradigms = need for new theories =
revolutions/paradigm shifts.
Kuhn’s example: Shift from Newtonian to Einsteinian mechanics
Scientific revolutions (paradigm shifts) is developmental episodes where old paradigms are
replaced in whole or part by an incompatible (incommensurable) new one.
Kuhn compares scientific revolutions to political revolutions (parallelism/correspondence)
Political revs are inaugurated by a In science, existing paradigms can no
growing sense that political party can no longer function properly in the
longer solve the problems that the party paradigm they have created
had in part created. (malfunction = prerequisite for rev)
1. Political revs aims to change Just like political rev example, the
political institutions in ways that choice between paradigms is
those institutions themselves incompatible. Choice cannot be made
prohibit. based on evaluative procedures of
2. Society is divided in competing normal science (because that in itself
parties (old vs new) = is paradigm dependent).
polarization
3. These parties institutionally Each group uses its own paradigm to
differ and acknowledge that argue in that paradigm’s defense =
there is no supra-institutional circular argument of persuasion.
framework to settle the diff
4. The conflicting parties must
resort to techniques of mass
persuasion (often force)
Note that new phenomenon might emerge w/o reflecting destructively upon any part of
past scientific practice. Compatible relationships between old and new theories can be
conceived
Example: If we discover life on the moon, it would destroy current science. But if we discover
life on other, less known parts of the galaxy it would not conflict too much with
predecessors.
Normal science owes it success to the ability of scientists regularly to select problems that
can be solved with conceptual and instrumental techniques close to those already in
existence.
Normal science needs commitment to a paradigm.
New theories (3 types of phenomena)
1. Already well explained by existing paradigms, seldom point of departure for
theory construction.
2. Nature of theory is indicated by existing paradigms but details can only be
understood through further theory articulation (articulate instead of invent).
3. When the articulation of (2) fails, it is the recognized anomalies that stubbornly
refuse to be assimilated in the existing paradigms = need for new theories =
revolutions/paradigm shifts.
Kuhn’s example: Shift from Newtonian to Einsteinian mechanics
