Study Questions for Kuhn

  1. What is the author's main point?
  2. Ideally (or naively), what does it mean to be scientific?
  3. According to Kuhn, what does it mean to be scientific?
  4. What is a precondition for success in the sciences?
  5. What is the dogmatism of mature science?
  6. What is the scientist's normal role?
  7. What are the paradoxical roles of commitment?
  8. What is the difference in how practitioners are taught in science vs. non-science?
  9. What is the difference between mature and immature science?
  10. What is a paradigm?
  11. What are the functions of a paradigm?
  12. What do scientists do within a paradigm?
  13. What is the role of anomalies?
  14. When does a 'crisis' occur? What is the result?
  15. What is a scientific revolution?
  16. What is the role of truth?
  17. Why does any of this matter to political scientists?

Things to look for/keep in mind for future readings:

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