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  3. Kuhn's Intellectual Path
  • Cited by 15
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    • Publisher:
      Cambridge University Press
      Publication date:
      02 February 2022
      30 September 2021
      ISBN:
      9781009057882
      9781316512173
      9781009060844
      DOI:
      https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009057882
      Dimensions:
      (229 x 152 mm)
      Weight & Pages:
      0.51kg, 246 Pages
      Dimensions:
      (229 x 152 mm)
      Weight & Pages:
      0.36kg, 245 Pages
      • Subjects:
      Philosophy of Science, Philosophy
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    Subjects:
    Philosophy of Science, Philosophy
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    Book description

    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.

    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 Source: 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 Source: Metascience

    ‘Who should read this book? Anyone who is interested in Kuhn’s ideas, or historically oriented philosophy of science in the second half of the twentieth century, will find many things of value here. But a much larger audience would benefit from reading it. If you are an analytic philosopher, and especially if you are a philosopher of science, what you believe about Kuhn is probably wrong, and this book will begin to set you right. If what you believe about Kuhn is wrong, what you believe about science is wrong too. Science is our paradigm for rational discourse and the creation of knowledge, so if you don’t understand what Kuhn said about science, then you have no business theorizing about rationality or knowledge. There is a great deal of work to do, and Wray’s book is an excellent place to start.’

    Peter Barker Source: Philosophy of Science

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