Studietaak 3

Question 1

What is central to Kuhn’s account of normal science?

Answer 1

The concept of a paradigm

Question 2

Of which two components does a paradigm consist?

Answer 2

1. A set of fundamental theoretical assumptions
2. A set of ‘exemplars’ or particular scientific problems

Question 3

What are the two main philosophical arguments Kuhn had for his claims?

Answer 3

1. Competing paradigms are typically ‘incommensurable’ with one another
2. The ideal of theory-ladenness is an illusion

Question 4

The idea that two paradigms may be so different as to render impossibe any straightforward comparison of them with each other

Answer 4

Incommensurability