Thomas S.

Kuhn, in full Thomas Samuel Kuhn, (born July 18,

1922, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.—died June 17, 1996, Cambridge, Mass.), American
historian of science noted for The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962), one of the
most influential works of history and philosophy written in the 20th century . He is known
as the man who changed the way the world looked at science.

In "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions" Thomas Kuhn presents a

revolutionary approach to how science functions and progresses. Against the normal
perception of science as a linear accumulation of knowledge, Kuhn attempts to view
science as progressing in leaps from one "paradigm" to the next.

A paradigm shift, a concept identified by the American physicist and

philosopher Thomas Kuhn, is a fundamental change in the
basic concepts and experimental practices of a scientific discipline. Kuhn presented his
notion of a paradigm shift in his influential book The Structure of Scientific
Revolutions (1962).

In his 1962 book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Kuhn explains the
development of paradigm shifts in science into four stages:

 Normal science – In this stage, which Kuhn sees as most prominent in science, a
dominant paradigm is active. This paradigm is characterized by a set of theories and
ideas that define what is possible and rational to do, giving scientists a clear set of
tools to approach certain problems. Some examples of dominant paradigms that
Kuhn gives are: Newtonian physics, caloric theory, and the theory of
electromagnetism. Under normal science, scientists encounter anomalies that
cannot be explained by the universally accepted paradigm within which scientific
progress has thereto been made.
 Extraordinary research – When enough significant anomalies have accrued
against a current paradigm, the scientific discipline is thrown into a state of crisis. To
address the crisis, scientists push the boundaries of normal science in what Kuhn
calls “extraordinary research”, which is characterized by its exploratory nature.
Without the structures of the dominant paradigm to depend on, scientists engaging
in extraordinary research must produce new theories, thought experiments, and
experiments to explain the anomalies
 Adoption of a new paradigm – Eventually a new paradigm is formed, which gains
its own new followers. For Kuhn, this stage entails both resistance to the new
paradigm, and reasons for why individual scientists adopt it. According to Max
Planck, "a new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and
making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a
new generation grows up that is familiar with it." Because scientists are committed to
the dominant paradigm, and paradigm shifts involve gestalt-like changes, Kuhn
 stresses that paradigms are difficult to change. However, paradigms can gain
influence by explaining or predicting phenomena much better than before (i.e.,
Bohr's model of the atom), or by being more subjectively pleasing. During this
phase, proponents for competing paradigms address what Kuhn considers the core
of a paradigm debate: whether a given paradigm will be a good guide
for future problems – things that neither the proposed paradigm nor the dominant
paradigm are capable of solving currently.
 Aftermath of the scientific revolution – In the long run, the new paradigm
becomes institutionalized as the dominant one. Textbooks are written, obscuring the
revolutionary process.

Examples:

 1964 - The discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation leads to the big
bang theory being accepted over the steady state theory in cosmology.
 1965 - The acceptance of plate tectonics as the explanation for large-scale
geologic changes
 1859 – The revolution in evolution from goal-directed change to Charles
Darwin's natural selection.

POST TEST (Words in bold is the answer)

1. He is known as the man who changed the way the world looked at science.
Who is he?
a. Emmanuel Kuhn
b. Vincent Kuhn
c. Thomas Kuhn
d. Gabriel Kuhn
2. What is the nationality of Kuhn?
a. German
b. American
c. Italian
d. Scottish

3. What comes next? It is a book published on 1962 entitled “The Structure of

Scientific __________”?
a. Explorations
 b. Evolutions
c. Discoveries
d. Revolutions
4. It is a fundamental change in the basic concepts and experimental
practices of a scientific discipline.
a. Paradigm Shift
b. Fundamental Change
c. Classical Change
d. Perceptual Alteration
5. This paradigm is characterized by a set of theories and ideas that define
what is possible and rational to do, giving scientists a clear set of tools to
approach certain problems.
a. Aftermath of the scientific revolution
b. Adoption of a new paradigm
c. Normal Science
d. Extraordinary Research
6. What stage of paradigm shifts is being described? “In the long run, the new
paradigm becomes institutionalized as the dominant one. Textbooks are
written, obscuring the revolutionary process”
a. Aftermath of the scientific revolution
b. Adoption of a new paradigm
c. Normal Science
d. Extraordinary Research
7. It is characterized by its exploratory nature.
a. Aftermath of the scientific revolution
b. Adoption of a new paradigm
c. Normal Science
d. Extraordinary Research
8. Eventually a new paradigm is formed, which gains its own new followers.
a. Aftermath of the scientific revolution
b. Adoption of a new paradigm
c. Normal Science
d. Extraordinary Research
9. Steady State Theory is moved into more accepted theory called?
________
a. Divine Theory
b. Big Bang Theory
c. Oscillating Theory
d. Theory of Everything
 10. The Spontaneous Generation is disapproved and a new knowledge stated
that life comes from living organisms is called _____?
a. Biogenesis
b. Natural Selection
c. Glycolysis
d. Cell Theory

FEEDBACK

After reading and analyzing the topic that I got it put me into a realization that
there is no permanent in this world other than change. Knowledge can be stationary;
unless there is no constant change in nature but if there is a proper experimentation and
strong evidences, knowledge will stay the same and continue to run from generation to
generation. Knowledge can be improve and develop by using the application of the
process, models, and theory that has strong and powerful evidence.

History will make the humankind more progressive if they know how to value and
evaluate history from its own identity and mistakes. Paradigm Shifts is a big help to the
society by means of eradicating the disrespectful minds of many towards the word of a
contributory individual. Misconception of a theory can lead to the new idea that can be
develop and studied in the contemporary times.

Present generations should inherit and develop the powerful ideas and
knowledge of famous scientist, philosophers, and personality because that will become
the greatest treasure of mankind to the progress of the society but it should not be
abuse that may lead to environmental problems. Wiser using of resources is a big
stepping stone to authentic and hazard-free society.

REFERENCES

1. Kuhn, T. (1962). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. p. 54.retrieved on

September 14, 2019 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradigm_shift
2. Agamben, G.. "What is a Paradigm?" (PDF). retrieved on September 14, 2019
from http://www.maxvanmanen.com/files/2014/03/Agamben-What-is-a-
paradigm1.pdf