Reading guide for Thurs 10/8: Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, sects. III-IV and p.s. sect. 2 (pp. 23-42, 181-187)
Section III
• If normal science does not aim at major novelties, what is its goal (pp. 23-25)?
• Locate the three sorts of fact-gathering activities of normal science, the third of which itself comes in three varieties (pp. 25-30).
• What are the corresponding three sorts of theoretical activity (pp. 30-34)?
Section IV
• What are the respects in which Kuhn compares normal science to puzzle-solving activity (pp. 35-40)?
• What are the 4 sorts of rules or commitments that are derived from a paradigm (pp. 40-42)?
Postscript §2
• What is a “disciplinary matrix” and what are its 4 components (pp. 181-187)?