Kuhn’s Response to the Relativism Accusation
Subject Areas :
Philosophy
Received: 2013-10-17
Accepted : 2014-01-23
Published : 2014-02-20
Keywords:
Kuhn,
Relativism,
observation,
Truth,
incommensuribility,
translatability,
Abstract :
Abstract
Kuhn often accused that has repeated the foundations of relativism in a cover and surface of scientific history in his works especially in Structure of Scientific Revolutions. The impossibility of reaching the truth, undedetermination of theories by observations and incommonsuribility are the main foundations of relativism which is found in Kuhn’s works. But Kuhn did not consider himself as a relativist. In response to this accusation he emphasis the existence of common sensory stimulants and discuss a list of common values that can guarantee the objectivity and rationality of science. He also defined incommensuribility in a moderate way which is equal to the impossibility of complete and accurate translation. This essay will review Kuhn’s response to this accusation and will show that though Kuhn in his second period of thought use a more realistic language but he defined its concepts in a relativistic paradigm and foundations of relativism are still present.
References:
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