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Title: The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas S. Kuhn ISBN: 0-226-45808-3 Publisher: University of Chicago Press (Trd) Pub. Date: November, 1996 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.04 (73 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Highly Recommended for a Reason
Comment: This book frequently pops up on a "Top 100" or "Best Science Book" or some other list for a reason: Mr. Kuhn was the first person to step back and look at the complex way in which science and scientific study have advanced over the course of humanity and try to put those observations forth in a logical manner. He succeeded brilliantly.
Mr. Kuhn's main point is that there are two phases of scientific discovery, "normal science" which is built on established principals, rounding out gaps in existing theories until the theories begin to unravel, at which point we have entered a period which will require a "paradigm shift". Mr. Kuhn takes the reader through multiple historical examples, the shifts in scientific thought brought about by Copernicus, Newton, Lavoisier and Einstein. His references are relevant and his thoughts are clearly put forth. The historical anecdotes are very entertaining and educational and do a solid job of reinforcing his point.
I must admit I was a bit concerned during the first chapter, it was a bit tough to make it through, but did a very good job of laying the groundwork and allowing a glimpse of the author's thought process. The second chapter, in which the author begins to define "normal science", immediately put me to rest as the author dove straight into making his point and proving his argument. The final three chapters pertaining to the Invisibility, Resolution and Progress of revolutions should be required reading for anyone who works in the sciences, and is immensely valuable to anyone working in any field. I have been surprised that there haven't been more straight on business interpretations of Kuhn's work (although there has obviously been much unreferenced piracy), as the spread of scientific thought is a very apt metaphor for the spread of business theory and product adoption.
This is a very good book and I highly recommend it, regardless of what field you work in, be it science, business or otherwise.
Rating: 5
Summary: "I am NOT a Kuhnian!" - Thomas Kuhn
Comment: This is truly one of the landmark works of 20th century philosophy of science. It is written by Thomas Kuhn, who was for decades a philosopher of science at MIT. His extensive background in physics gives him a unique perspective from which to author a book such as this.
The core thesis is that science can only make minimal progress without the existence of paradigms. Without a working model, science descends into mere arbitrary, usually aimless cataloging of data without any means to unify the data into a cohesive whole.
Over time, of course, there are paradigm shifts in which one model replaces another. It is this phenomenom that Kuhn traces; scientific revolutions. There is always much resistance to new theories / paradigms - especially by the older scientists in a field which may be impacted by the subject paradigm. Kuhn points out that very often it is the younger scientists who usually make the greatest contributions, for they are not "set in their ways." Human psychology enters into the equation more and more the older the scientist happens to be; his scientific upbringing may cause him to ignore or reject anything which challenges his neat & tidy view of the universe.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not the purpose of a paradigm to eradicate every single anomaly or instance of data which does not favor it. These idiosyncrasies of nature are to be worked out (or attempted to be worked out) by what Kuhn labels "normal science," which are the periods in between scientific revolutions.
What makes one working model more attractive than another is the way its answers to the "big general questions" of the particular field are superior to its rivals. Of course, how much slack a given paradigm should be given before it is discarded (due to contrary empirical facts) is not queried in detail by Kuhn. I suppose that the determination is always that such-and-such a model provides "the best answer available" to our considerations of nature.
Perhaps the most famous line appears on page 90: "Almost always the men who achieve these fundamental inventions of a new paradigm have been either very young or very new to the field whose paradigm they change." Kuhn's point, I believe, is correct. However, this line has been abused more than any other passage in the book. Minority groups with axes to grind have "translated" this statement as thus:
"BECAUSE our paradigm is not accepted by the scientific community, and BECAUSE we were not brought up in the same educational environment as they, THEREFORE our paradigm is only valid one - de capo. ANY resistance to our way of thinking about things only goes to show how legitimate paradigms are ignored and rejected by the established powers that be in the scientific community - just as Thomas Kuhn wrote."
It is non-sequiters such as these that led Kuhn to vehemently declare to the famous Princeton physicist Freeman Dyson that "I am NOT a Kuhnian!"
This book is highly recommended to philosophers, scientists and philosophers of science, as well persons who are curious about the idealogical engines which drive science. A fascinating inquiry into the nexus between human psychology and scientific thought.
Rating: 4
Summary: How and Why Organizations/Communities Resist Change
Comment: This relatively easy read while, focusing on the history of changes in scientific paradigms, really is applicable to a much wider audience. It is a recommended "must read" for anyone in the organizational facilitation or organizational development field who needs to understand how difficult it is for organizations to embrace change.
Kuhn well explains how community paradigms are formed and perpetuated, and just how difficult it is for people to accept changes to their paradigm, and why organiations facing necessary changes to their paradigm are prone to label the changes as "anomalies" so they can be discounted and avoided.
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Title: The Road Since Structure: Philosophical Essays, 1970-1993, With an Autobiographical Interview by Thomas S. Kuhn, Jim Conant, John Haugeland, James Conant ISBN: 0226457982 Publisher: University of Chicago Press (Trd) Pub. Date: November, 2000 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
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Title: The Logic of Scientific Discovery (Routledge Classics) by Karl Popper ISBN: 0415278449 Publisher: Routledge Pub. Date: 29 March, 2002 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: Against Method by Paul Feyerabend ISBN: 0860916464 Publisher: Verso Books Pub. Date: September, 1993 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
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Title: The Copernican Revolution: Planetary Astronomy in the Development of Western Thought by Thomas S. Kuhn ISBN: 0674171039 Publisher: Harvard Univ Pr Pub. Date: January, 1992 List Price(USD): $13.45 |
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Title: The Social Construction of Reality : A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge by PETER L. BERGER, THOMAS LUCKMANN ISBN: 0385058985 Publisher: Anchor Pub. Date: 11 July, 1967 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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