Thomas Kuhn - Philosophy, Learning and Change
Thomas Kuhn (1922-96)
American scientist (pictured right) and philosopher
Best known for his concept of paradigm shifts to describe revolutionary changes in
thinking (see below).
His most famous book is...
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962).
What did he say about learning and change?
1. “Paradigm”
The word he used to describe a subject or discipline like physics,
history or geography.
2. “Paradigm shift”
This occurs when:
- you see a paradigm (see point 1) in a revolutionary way.
- old ideas are replaced by completely new ones.
Albert Einstien's (pictured
right) Theory of Relativity had such an effect on physics.
3. Combine paradigms
Revolutionary ideas come from combining and understanding two different paradigms
(“bilingualism”).
So people learn the most when they have the mental flexibility to apply a completely
different subject (or paradigm) to the one they are studying.
4. Beware of fads and false prophets
Ideas may be accepted not because they are right, but because they are fashionable and supported by experts.
Instead critically evaluate what they say and seek the truth.
“Fashions fade but truth endures”, Kuhn said.
5. Learning must be worthwhile
Learning a subject (or paradigm) must be useful to you and other people.
So a vital question is:
How much does a subject solve our present and future problems?
Key quotes on
change
When paradigms change, the world itself changes with them.
Fashions fade but truth endures
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