The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962) by Thomas Kuhn stands as a seminal work that revolutionized the philosophy of science. As a scholar who shifted his focus from physics to the history of science, and later to the philosophy of science, Kuhn challenged prevailing notions about the nature of scientific progress, introducing concepts such as paradigms, normal science, and scientific revolutions. Situated at the nexus of science, history, and philosophy, Kuhn’s work upended the view of science as a linear and cumulative pursuit, instead characterizing it as a realm consisting of periods of incremental progress interrupted by upheavals in fundamental beliefs. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions was controversial upon publication and remains controversial in some circles today. His introduction of a humanist, subjective perspective to science bothered some who wished to keep science free of any seemingly irrational elements. The book is also notable for helping the word “paradigm” to achieve widespread use in the 20th century. Modern Library has named it one of the 100 best nonfiction books since 1900.

This guide references The Structure of Scientific Revolutions: 50th Anniversary Edition, published by The University of Chicago Press in 2012.