The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

Thomas Kuhn was an American philosopher, historian, and physicist, best known for his groundbreaking work The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Born on July 18, 1922, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kuhn exhibited an early interest in science. He studied physics at Harvard University, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1943. During World War II, he served as a radar technician in the United States Army.

After the war, Kuhn continued his education, receiving a master’s degree in physics in 1946. His early career was marked by a combination of research in physics and a growing fascination with the history and philosophy of science. Kuhn’s experiences in the scientific community laid the foundation for his later reflections on the nature of scientific progress.

In 1956, Kuhn took a significant step in his intellectual journey when he began teaching a course on the history of science at Harvard. This venture led him to delve more deeply into the historical development of scientific ideas and practices, planting the seeds for what would become one of the most influential books in the philosophy of science.

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, published in 1962, presented a revolutionary perspective on the history of science.