Kuhn's Intellectual Path: Charting The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

by K. Brad Wray

Overview

Thomas Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions offers an insightful and engaging theory of science that speaks to scholars across many disciplines. Though initially widely misunderstood, it had a profound impact on the way intellectuals and educated laypeople thought about science. K. Brad Wray traces the influences on Kuhn as he wrote Structure, including his 'Aristotle epiphany', his interactions, and his studies of the history of chemistry. Wray then considers the impact of Structure on the social sciences, on the history of science, and on the philosophy of science, where the problem of theory change has set the terms of contemporary realism/anti-realism debates. He examines Kuhn's frustrations with the Strong Programme sociologists' appropriations of his views, and debunks several popular claims about what influenced Kuhn as he wrote Structure. His book is a rich and comprehensive assessment of one of the most influential works in the modern sciences.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781316512173
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	09/30/2021
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.22(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

K. Brad Wray is Professor of Philosophy at Aarhus University.

Table of Contents

Introduction; Part I. The Groundwork for Structure: Harvard 1947 to 1955: 1. What did Aristotle Teach Kuhn?; 2. The Influence of James B. Conant; 3. Kuhn and the History of Chemistry; 4. Kuhn and the Logical Positivists; Part II. The Unexpected Uptake: Kuhn and the Social Sciences: 5. Kuhn's Influence on the Social Sciences; 6. The Elephant in the Room: The Sociology of Scientific Knowledge; Part III. Kuhn and the History of Science; 7. Copenhagen, 1962-1963: A Return to the History of Science; 8. Structure, Historicism and the History of Science; Part IV. Kuhn's Philosophical Legacy: 9. Squeals of Outrage from Philosophers; 10. Kuhn and the Contemporary Realism/Anti-realism Debates; 11. Kuhn's Career, Post-Structure.

Editorial Reviews

‘This is an enlightening book, both for Kuhn novices and for Kuhn professionals. Wray's judgment on contentious issues – of which there are many – is invariably balanced and fair. The book is equally well-researched and well-written; it is a delight to read.' Paul Hoyningen-Huene, Leibniz University Hannover

‘a comprehensive, accessible, fair overview of Thomas Kuhn's work … Recommended.’ D. B. Boersema, Choice Connect

‘… the book is clearly structured, with respect to both chronology and themes, and Wray offers many new angles and insights. But each of the four parts as well as each individual chapter can also be read in isolation. Wray assists the reader by providing concise introductions to and summaries of each chapter and part of the book.’ Hanne Andersen, Metascience

From the Publisher