SOC SCI H1G Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Normal Science, Mind Control, Instrumentalism
27 Nov 2018
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Document Summary
More common for scientists to adhere to paradigm that they have invested energy in. Worried about the paradigm that their work is under. Evidence goes both ways -> there are always good reasons to embrace either of two paradigms. Controlled by those who are dominant in a field. Who educates the next generation, who writes textbook, who funds research, etc. Changing between paradigms is largely a sociological process. Conflicts between paradigms -> cannot be rationally adjudicated in rational or neutrally objective way. Revolutionary crisis not driven by responsiveness to evidence but rather there is too much evidence. Paradigm allegiance winds up being part of temperament, personal idiosyncrasies, etc. Not the way that scientists think things happen. Kuhn: eventually transition from one paradigm to another is not a process of conversion or considering new evidence -> outcome of deaths, retirements declining activity, marginalization of those defending old paradigm.
