The Structure of Scientific Revolutions“One of the most influential books of the 20th century,” the landmark study in the history of science with a new introduction by philosopher Ian Hacking (Guardian, UK). First published in 1962, Thomas Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions ”reshaped our understanding of the scientific enterprise and human inquiry in general.” In it, he challenged long-standing assumptions about scientific progress, arguing that transformative ideas don’t arise from the gradual process of experimentation and data accumulation, but instead occur outside of “normal science.” Though Kuhn was writing when physics ruled the sciences, his ideas on how scientific revolutions bring order to the anomalies that amass over time in research experiments are still instructive in today’s biotech age (Science). This new edition of Kuhn’s essential work includes an insightful introduction by Ian Hacking, which clarifies terms popularized by Kuhn, including “paradigm” and “incommensurability,” and applies Kuhn’s ideas to the science of today. Usefully keyed to the separate sections of the book, Hacking’s introduction provides important background information as well as a contemporary context. This newly designed edition also includes an expanded and updated index. |
Contents
A Role for History
| 1 |
II The Route to Normal Science
| 10 |
III The Nature of Normal Science
| 23 |
IV Normal Science as PuzzleSolving
| 35 |
V The Priority of Paradigms
| 43 |
VI Anomaly and the Emergence of Scientific Discoveries
| 52 |
VII Crisis and the Emergence of Scientific Theories
| 66 |
VIII The Response to Crisis
| 77 |
IX The Nature and Necessity of Scientific Revolutions
| 92 |
X Revolutions as Changes of World View | 111 |
XI The Invisibility of Revolutions | 135 |
XII The Resolution of Revolutions | 143 |
XIII Progress through Revolutions | 159 |
Postscript1969 | 173 |
Index | 209 |
Other editions - View all
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions: 50th Anniversary Edition Thomas S. Kuhn No preview available - 2012 |
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions: 50th Anniversary Edition Thomas S. Kuhn No preview available - 2012 |
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions: 50th Anniversary Edition Thomas S. Kuhn No preview available - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
achieved Alexandre Koyré already anomaly applications argument articulation astronomers caloric theory Cambridge century chap chemical chemistry chemists commitments concepts contemporary Copernican Copernicus counterinstances crisis Dalton debate digm discovered discovery discussion E. T. Whittaker effects Einstein electrical emergence essay example existence experience experimental fact field fundamental Furthermore Galileo gestalt switch historian history of science incommensurability J. R. Partington Kuhn’s Lavoisier Lavoisier’s laws least Leyden jar Maxwell’s mechanics motion nature Newton’s Newtonian normal research normal science novelty observation ofScience ofthe oxygen paradigm change particles particular pendulum perception phenomena philosophical phlogiston theory physics pre-paradigm previously Priestley problems professional progress puzzle-solving puzzles quantum quantum mechanics question recognized result revolutionary role rules scientific community scientific development scientific revolutions scientific theory scientists sense shared solution solved sort Structure suggest T. S. Kuhn techniques textbooks theoretical tific tion tradition usually