3. “Paradigms & Thomas Kuhn”
How is Science Done?
Thomas Kuhn (1922 – 1996)
• Physicist and Philosopher
• Harvard Ph.D in Physics
• Guggenheim Fellow
• Professor at
• Berkeley, Princeton, MIT
4. “Paradigms & Thomas Kuhn”
How is Science Done?
Kuhn’s Legacy
• The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
(1962)
• Devised the ideas of Normal Science,
Paradigms and Paradigm Shifts
• Influenced virtually all of philosophy of
science after him
5. “Paradigms & Thomas Kuhn”
How is Science Done?
Kuhn: Paradigms are “Universally
recognized scientific achievements
that for a time provide model
problems and solutions to a
community of practitioners.”
6. “Paradigms & Thomas Kuhn”
How is Science Done?
Paradigm: Facts seen in a particular way
7. “Paradigms & Thomas Kuhn”
How is Science Done?
Paradigm Shifts
1. Facts are discovered
2. Different theories try to explain facts,
compete for leading position
3. One generally accepted theory becomes
the paradigm, normal science follows
4. Crisis – new facts and / or theories create
the need for a new paradigm
8. “Paradigms & Thomas Kuhn”
How is Science Done?
Discovery: Scientists are always on the
lookout for some new facts
9. “Paradigms & Thomas Kuhn”
How is Science Done?
Theory: One group of scientists creates a
theory that explains some of the facts
10. “Paradigms & Thomas Kuhn”
How is Science Done?
Acceptance: It seems to many scientists the
theory works – it becomes a paradigm
11. “Paradigms & Thomas Kuhn”
How is Science Done?
Scientists become stuck in the paradigm –
Normal Science
12. “Paradigms & Thomas Kuhn”
How is Science Done?
Crisis: Someone recognizes the paradigm no
longer explains experimental data
13. “Paradigms & Thomas Kuhn”
How is Science Done?
New Paradigm: One group with a convincing
theory starts building a new paradigm
14. “Paradigms & Thomas Kuhn”
How is Science Done?
Confrontation: Proponents of the previous
paradigm try to maintain and polish it
15. “Paradigms & Thomas Kuhn”
How is Science Done?
Confrontation: Someone tries to join the
new and the old paradigm together
16. “Paradigms & Thomas Kuhn”
How is Science Done?
Better Paradigm: But eventually the better
(or more accurate) paradigm wins out
17. “Paradigms & Thomas Kuhn”
How is Science Done?
Conclusions
• Paradigms are a particular way of looking
at facts and theories
• More accurate consideration of facts and
theories brings about paradigmatic shifts
which enable scientists to see reality in a
new light
