The Normal and the Revolutionary: Kuhn's Conversations with Rorty

In this paper I examine Thomas Kuhn's epistolary and in-person exchanges with Richard Rorty, and their significance to the former's work on the nature of scientific development during the years 1976-1986. Accordingly, it corresponds to a significant evolution of Kuhn's thought from th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International studies in the philosophy of science 2023-04, Vol.36 (2), p.105-120
Main Author: Mayoral, Juan V.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
epistemology
Evolution
incommensurability
Kuhn
lexicon
Philosophy of science
revolution
Revolutions
Rorty
solidarity
tradition
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Summary:In this paper I examine Thomas Kuhn's epistolary and in-person exchanges with Richard Rorty, and their significance to the former's work on the nature of scientific development during the years 1976-1986. Accordingly, it corresponds to a significant evolution of Kuhn's thought from the position expounded earlier in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. These letters show how Kuhn's philosophy of science evolved towards a greater emphasis on a key aspect of his former work-the nature of 'the essential tension'-and that his more linguistically-oriented perspective in these latter years has that emphasis as its goal-at least as a significant part.
ISSN:0269-8595
1469-9281
DOI:10.1080/02698595.2023.2248546