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The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (Paperback)

by Thomas S. Kuhn (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
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There's a "Frank & Ernest" comic strip showing a chick breaking out of its shell, looking around, and saying, "Oh, wow! Paradigm shift!" Blame the late Thomas Kuhn. Few indeed are the philosophers or historians influential enough to make it into the funny papers, but Kuhn is one.

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions is indeed a paradigmatic work in the history of science. Kuhn's use of terms such as "paradigm shift" and "normal science," his ideas of how scientists move from disdain through doubt to acceptance of a new theory, his stress on social and psychological factors in science--all have had profound effects on historians, scientists, philosophers, critics, writers, business gurus, and even the cartoonist in the street.

Some scientists (such as Steven Weinberg and Ernst Mayr) are profoundly irritated by Kuhn, especially by the doubts he casts--or the way his work has been used to cast doubt--on the idea of scientific progress. Yet it has been said that the acceptance of plate tectonics in the 1960s, for instance, was sped by geologists' reluctance to be on the downside of a paradigm shift. Even Weinberg has said that "Structure has had a wider influence than any other book on the history of science." As one of Kuhn's obituaries noted, "We all live in a post-Kuhnian age." --Mary Ellen Curtin



Product Description

Thomas S. Kuhn's classic book is now available with a new index.
 
"A landmark in intellectual history which has attracted attention far beyond its own immediate field. . . . It is written with a combination of depth and clarity that make it an almost unbroken series of aphorisms. . . . Kuhn does not permit truth to be a criterion of scientific theories, he would presumably not claim his own theory to be true. But if causing a revolution is the hallmark of a superior paradigm, [this book] has been a resounding success." —Nicholas Wade, Science
 
"Perhaps the best explanation of [the] process of discovery." —William Erwin Thompson, New York Times Book Review
 
"Occasionally there emerges a book which has an influence far beyond its originally intended audience. . . . Thomas Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions . . . has clearly emerged as just such a work." —Ron Johnston, Times Higher Education Supplement
 
"Among the most influential academic books in this century." —Choice
 
One of "The Hundred Most Influential Books Since the Second World War," Times Literary Supplement
 
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

76 Reviews
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 (8)
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4.1 out of 5 stars (76 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5.0 out of 5 stars A Scientist Few Scientists Know, Nov 20 2009
By Richard Cassidy (Saskatoon, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is more of a personal comment on why I feel scientists should read this book, rather than a summary of ideas within Kuhn's book.

As a research scientist who has worked in government/industry and academia, I was rather embarrassed when I discovered Kuhn's book later in my career. Kuhn, who was a PhD physicist, had published a book that is the most cited single-author publication in the arts and humanities citation index for the later 1900s. Irrespective of what one thinks of his ideas, this track record should be sufficient to make it part of all science education. But, I had never heard of him! With time I discovered that I had lots of company in the scientific community. As I gave seminars to scientific audiences (primarily chemists I will have to admit), in Canada and internationally, on his ideas I discovered that only about 5% had heard of Kuhn, and only about 3% had read any of his books. I know of no science department within research universities that recommends Structure to their students or that requires or recommends their students take a course that would introduce them to Kuhn's and other philosophical examinations of science. If they exist I would be interested in hearing about them.

Compared to many other philosophical and social examinations of science I have read, Structure is, in my perspective as a scientist, easier to read, more organized, and more concise. If you focus on what is innovative, useful, descriptive of some aspects of science, and thought provoking, then this a book a scientist should place at the top of a 'must read' list. How can I call myself a 'scientist' if I have no understanding of the history and philosophy of my field? This statement applies to any professional field.

I have read many critical comments about Kuhn, but to put the criticisms in proper perspective, one must read most of Kuhn's books. In particular I would suggest the Road Since Structure and The Copernican Revolution. Everyone finds 'hooks' in good books that stick to places the author may not have intended. Kuhn once said "I am not a Kuhnian".
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5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Aug 17 2009
By Moez "MC" (Montreal, Quebec) - See all my reviews
In many ways, this book is the most important philosophical work of the 20th century. It is, however, a deceptively easy read - the themes and concepts explored by Kuhn are extremely complex, and the triumph of this work is in its context (i.e. the way in which it shattered the foundations of logical positivism as it concerns the philosophy of science and epistemology and, moreover, Kuhn entrenched the fundamental place of history in the philosophy of science. There is no respectable department in the philosophy of science that doesn't have an, at least, excellent collaboration with history departments). It can be read as a laymen or as a philosopher/scientists and, either way, it will be one of the most important books to sit on your shelf.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Philosophic common sense applied to Science Evolution of Tho, Jun 17 2004
By Sergio A. Salazar Lozano (Tampico, Tamaulipas Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
The complete title of this review is "Philosophic common sense applied to Science Evolution of Thought". Basically the central thesis of Kuhn was that science evolves through paradigm shifts, and of course he conceives science as a compound of theories and laws based on the most agreeable paradigms of the epoch. I found this book refreshing and interesting from at least two perspectives, filosofically and historically. Also this book is read as a compendium of consecutive works that altogether make a coherent thesis, so it's easy reading it. Finally, Kuhn's style is very friendly and personal, so you really feel he is urging you to follow him in all his arguments. Reading this book was a great experience for me, and I highly recommend it.
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5.0 out of 5 stars should be mandatory reading for grad students in all fields
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