The Chronicle: Colloquy: The question

THE QUESTION

A new book by Steve Fuller -- Thomas Kuhn: A Philosophical History for Our Times (University of Chicago Press) -- questions many of the assumptions in Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Kuhn's influential book has been embraced by many academics and politicians for the way it explains the creation of paradigms and how new ideas displace old ones. Mr. Fuller, a philosopher at the University of Warwick, argues that many people do not realize the antidemocratic implications of Kuhn's analysis. Mr. Fuller urges scholars to reject the concept of paradigms and to adopt a less formal, more open way of thinking about ideas. Is Mr. Fuller's critique on target? Has Structure promoted a better understanding of the creation of knowledge, or has it squelched creativity?

Steve Fuller, author of Thomas Kuhn: A Philosophical History for Our Times joins the debate.

For further information, see this background article:

A Philosopher's Call to End All Paradigms (9/15/2000)

: 29 RESPONSES (New 4/16)

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