is sociology a science - Kuhn

Question 1

Is Kuhn a sociologist

Answer 1

no a philosopher of science

Question 2

What is a paradigm ?

Answer 2

is a shared set of norms (kind of like a culture) that informs the scientists of how to work providing a basic framework of assumptions and methods.

Question 3

What does he state is the reson why the paradigm is accepted by sociologists uncritically?

Answer 3

due to the process of socialisation

Question 4

What is the reward for conormity to the paradigm?

Answer 4

There conformity to this paradigm is rewarded through publication of work / papers
Argues a science cannot exist without this paradigm until there is a general consensus

Question 5

Does he argue that science occurs within an open or closed system?

Answer 5

Arguments science occurs within a(closed system) - within science there are no disagreements so the knowledge doesn’t grow as we are not criticising one another.

Question 6

define normal science

Answer 6

where a paradig goes unquestioned

Question 7

Dedine puzzle solving?

Answer 7

• The paradigm defines the questions and in broad terms, the answers → so scientists are left to find the nearest solution - not to create or discover anything new
  E.g like completing a puzzle yk the end result just need to figure out how the pieces fit together
  “Everything but the detail is known in advance - the challenge is to not uncover the unknown but to obtain the known”
• This paradigm allows for scientists to agree on the basics of the subject so they are able to get on with productive puzzle solving work being able to expand the paradigm with more and more knowledge.

Question 8

What would lead to a scientific revolution?

Answer 8

• From time to time scientists obtain findings that are different to the paradigm - as these anomalies build up the overall confidence in the paradigm begins to decline.
• This leads to arguments about basic assumptions and to no efforts to reformulate the paradigm to account for these anomalies
• When this occurs the science enters a time of (crisis) its foundations are being put into question and lose sense of purpose
• Scientists in response begin to formulate (rival paradigms) which signifies the start of a (scientific revolution)

Question 9

Can two paradigms occur at the same time?

Answer 9

• Kuhn argues two (differing paradigms are incommensurable) and cannot be judged by the same set of standards
• Eventually one paradigm will win acceptance allowing normal science to resume → the paradigm gains support first from younger scientists and it eventually will win as the elders die out

Question 10

Is sociology a science with a paradigm?

Answer 10

Sociology is (pre-paradigmatic) so is divided into competing perspectives for the ownership of thought

• Kuhn believes sociology could only become a science if such basic disagreements were resolved → as even within perspectives there are disagreements
• Post modernists would argue that a paradigm would not be desirable - as it sounds like a meta-narrative as it silences minority views