SOSC 111 Lecture Notes - Thomas Kuhn, Normal Science, Academic Freedom
Document Summary
The argument science is not external to society. The idea that science is an institution, infused in society. Science: a system of acquiring knowledge through observation and experimentation. A cultural authority from which we can judge truth from falsity, deviance from normality. A social institution with its own rewards and punishments. Science is a social institution in which people are socialized and become committed to a paradigm with its own values and beliefs and procedures and rules by a given community. Normal science is conservative it is resistant to challenging ideas, kuhn argues that science as an institution is conservative. Anomalies lead to revolution new paradigm the potential for a revolutionary change major shifts in scientific thinking e. g. ptolemy"s universe to copernicus"s universe, all the assumptions change. Communism the idea that scientists should share their ideals, not keep anything to themselves, free exchange of ideas. Generating ideas for everyone to share, diffuse results as widely as possible.
