Week 3 Supplemental Reading: Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

Question 1

Definition: Scientific Revolutions?

Answer 1

“non- cumulative developmental episodes in which an older paradigm is replaced in whole or in part by an incompatible new one”

Question 2

Similarities with political and scientific revolutions?

Answer 2

“the sense of malfunction that can lead to crisis is prerequisite to revolution”
“Their success therefore necessitates the partial relinquishment of one set of institutions in favour of another, and in the interim, society is not fully governed by institutions at all.”
As problems deepen people align with one side to get a new order.

Question 3

Who sees scientific change as a revolution? Who sees it as an evolution?

Answer 3

Revolution: those who’s work involves the current paradigm or who subscribes to it.
Evolution: those who are not invested in that aspect of the paradigm.

Question 4

What are the objections to the idea that Einsteinian dynamics and Newtonian dynamics are incompatible?

Answer 4

• Many people still use newtonian successfully
• use Einsteins theory to show that Newtons works
• basically says “any theory ever used by a significant group of competent scientists immune to attack”

Question 5

What are some differences between paradigms?

Answer 5

questions as the existence of 1) subatomic particles, the 2) materiality of light, and the 3) conservation of heat or of energy

Question 6

Does Kuhn think new paradigms move us closer to the truth?

Answer 6

Shouldn’t use idea of moving toward a “truth” to guide as in describing evolutions or new paradigms.