The Essential Tension: Selected Studies in Scientific Tradition and Change
Abstract
Thomas Kuhn is very well known in the history of science and his book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions remains one of the most cited academic works of the last century. Kuhn’s use of the term “paradigm” had a lasting impact on the language, twisting a term that had previously meant “model” or “example” so that it signified a consensus within a field of research (among other things), which can sometimes very quickly following innovations (what Kuhn termed “paradigm shifts”). The following selection from his work is a conference talk he presented at the University of Utah to academics interested in creativity and the development of scientific talent. It retains much of the flavor of a public presentation and, as such, makes many of Kuhn’s concepts accessible to a general audience.
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Science's ethical norms have changed over time, and they are likely to continue to evolve.
“science’s ethical norms have changed over time, and they are likely to continue to evolve [80, 128, 147, 237].”
From The ethics of using artificial intelligence in scientific research: new guidance needed for a new tool (2025) · cites this paper as [128]
A good scientific theory has at least five characteristics: accuracy, broad scope, consistency, simplicity, and fruitfulness.
“T. Kuhn (1977) has argued that a good scientific theory has at least five characteristics.”
From The role of anomalous data in knowledge acquisition: A theoretical framework and implications for science instruction. (1993) · cites this paper as T. Kuhn (1977)
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- Authors
- Kuhn, T. S.
- Venue
- University of Chicago Press eBooks
- Publisher
- University of Chicago Press
- Published
- 1977
- OpenAlex
- W2008745885
- Cited by
- 3,861
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 130 · 2025: 163 · 2024: 151 · 2023: 130 · 2022: 156 · 2021: 118 · 2020: 125 · 2019: 190 · 2018: 160 · 2017: 102 · 2016: 70 · 2015: 140 · 2014: 93 · 2013: 92 · 2012: 131
- FWCI
- 121.88
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- University of Chicago Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy, Science, and History
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy and History of Science
- Social Sciences › Education › Science Education and Pedagogy
- Keywords
- Thomas Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, scientific paradigms, paradigm shift, scientific revolution, creativity, scientific talent development, history of science
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