SOCI 325 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Phlogiston Theory, Thomas Kuhn, Falsifiability
11 Apr 2020
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Directly confronted the prevailing (norm-centric) view of science as an institution. Had a huge impact, arguably spurring its own paradigm shift in the philosophy and sociology of science. In tsse, kuhn suggests instead that the theoretical frameworks of a paradigm shape observations and define facts. For kuhn, facts do not exist without a paradigm that can give them meaning. Kuhn argues that counter-examples (anomalies) do not normally cause crisis. Only during revolutions in paradigm are anomalies employed as justification for new worldviews: reading discussion. Both kuhn"s (1970) concept of paradigm and merton"s (1942) concept of norms suggest that scientists are indoctrinated into certain sets of beliefs. How does the paradigm of, say, phlogiston theory differ from the. Merton (1942) supported the use of eponymous laws or theories to recognize the biggest contributor to the understanding of a new or unfamiliar phenomenon. Do you think kuhn would agree with the idea of eponymy in science? (student submission)
