Kuhn vs. Popper: The Struggle for the Soul of Science (Revolutions in Science)

Kuhn vs. Popper: The Struggle for the Soul of Science (Revolutions in Science) by Fuller, Steve. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780231134286.

Thomas Kuhns Structure of Scientific Revolutions has sold over a million copies in more than twenty languages and has remained one of the ten most cited academic works for the past half century. In contrast, Karl Poppers seminal book The Logic of Scientific Discovery has lapsed into relative obscurity. Although the two men debated the nature of science only once, the legacy of this encounter has dominated intellectual and public discussions on the topic ever since. Almost universally recognized as the modern watershed in the philosophy of science, Kuhns relativistic vision of shifting paradigms―which asserted that science was just another human activity, like art or philosophy, only more specialized―triumphed over Poppers more positivistic belief in sciences revolutionary potential to falsify societys dogmas. But has this victory been beneficial for science? Steve Fuller argues that not only has Kuhns dominance had an adverse impact on the field but both thinkers have been radically misinterpreted in the process. This debate raises a vital question: Can science remain an independent, progressive force in society, or is it destined to continue as the technical wing of the military-industrial complex? Drawing on original research―including the Kuhn archives at MIT―Fuller offers a clear account of "Kuhn vs. Popper" and what it will mean for the future of scientific inquiry.