Kuhn, Thomas Samuel

Kuhn, Thomas Samuel
(1922– )
American philosopher of science. Born in Ohio, Kuhn was educated at Harvard as a physicist before his book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962) became one of the most influential modern works of the history and philosophy of science. Like Alexandre Koyré (1892–1964) and the French writers Bachelard and Jean Cavaillès (1903–44), Kuhn stresses that the history of science is not a smooth progressive accumulation of data and successful theory, but the outcome of ruptures, false starts, and imaginative constraints that themselves reflect many different variables. In his account, science during a normal period works within a framework of assumptions called a paradigm, but in exceptional and revolutionary periods an old paradigm breaks down and after a period of competition is replaced by a new one. The process is something like a Gestalt switch, and has seemed to many to have disquieting implications for the rationality and objectivity of science. Kuhn's other books include The Copernican Revolution (1957) and Sources for the History of Quantum Physics (1967).

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  • Kuhn,Thomas Samuel — Kuhn, Thomas Samuel. 1922 1996. American philosopher and historian best known for his work The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962), in which he challenged the view that the history of science is a smooth and cumulative process, arguing… …   Universalium

  • Kuhn, Thomas (Samuel) — born July 18, 1922, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. died June 17, 1996, Cambridge, Mass. U.S. historian and philosopher of science. He taught at Berkeley (1956–64), Princeton (1964–79), and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1979–91). In his… …   Universalium

  • Kuhn, Thomas (Samuel) — (18 jul. 1922, Cincinnati, Ohio, EE.UU. –17 jun. 1996, Cambridge, Mass.). Historiador y filósofo de la ciencia estadounidense. Enseñó en Berkeley (1956–64), Princeton (1964–79), y el Instituto de Tecnología de Massachusetts (1979–91). En su muy… …   Enciclopedia Universal

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  • Thomas Samuel Kuhn — (* 18. Juli 1922 in Cincinnati; † 17. Juni 1996 in Cambridge, Massachusetts) war ein US amerikanischer Wissenschaftstheoretiker und Wissenschaftshistoriker. Er gehört zu den bedeutendsten Wissenschaftsphilosophen des 20. Jahrhunderts. In seinem… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Thomas Samuel Kuhn — Infobox Philosopher region = Western Philosophy era = 20th century philosophy color = #B0C4DE name = Thomas Samuel Kuhn birth = July 18 1922 Cincinnati, Ohio death = June 17 1996 (aged 73) school tradition = Analytic main interests = Philosophy… …   Wikipedia

  • Thomas Samuel Kuhn — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Kuhn. Thomas S. Kuhn Philosophe et historien des sciences XXe siècle Naissance 18 juillet 1922 ( …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Kuhn, Thomas S. — ▪ 1997       U.S. philosopher of science (b. July 18, 1922, Cincinnati, Ohio d. June 17, 1996, Cambridge, Mass.), was the author of The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962), one of the most widely read and influential books in 20th century… …   Universalium

  • Kuhn's — Kuhn, Thomas Samuel …   Philosophy dictionary

  • Kuhn — Kuhn, Thomas Samuel …   Philosophy dictionary

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