PhilSci Archive

The Value of Ignorance in the Progress of Science: A Revision to Kuhn on Why Revolutions in Science Must Happen

Goldhaber, Michael H (2011) The Value of Ignorance in the Progress of Science: A Revision to Kuhn on Why Revolutions in Science Must Happen. [Preprint]

This is the latest version of this item.

[img]
Preview
 PDF
Download (112Kb) | Preview

    Abstract

    Why do scientific revolutions occur? Not chiefly because of accumulated anomalies, as Kuhn originally suggested. Rather, it is because scientists each must start from scratch. If a paradigm remains successful long enough, newcomers to the field will take more time than they can afford to get up to speed. If a new paradigm jettisons much former knowledge, it will seem increasingly attractive. While advances in the old paradigm require high levels of experience and sophistication even to understand, the new, once its basic mindset is adopted, is replete with low-hanging fruit.

    Export/Citation:EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII (Chicago style) | HTML Citation | OpenURL
    Social Networking:
    Share |
    Item Type: Preprint
    Keywords: Kuhn, paradigm change, revolutions, ignorance, limits of learning, progress, forgetting
    Subjects: General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
    General Issues > Theory Change
    Depositing User: Dr. Michael H. Goldhaber
    Date Deposited: 01 Dec 2011 11:30
    Last Modified: 01 Dec 2011 11:30
    Item ID: 8921
    URI: http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/8921

    Available Versions of this Item

    Actions (login required)

    		 View Item

    Document Downloads