1922 – 1996
Thomas S. Kuhn (1922–1996) was an American philosopher and historian of science whose 1962 work 'The Structure of Scientific Revolutions' transformed the philosophy of science. He argued that science progresses through periodic paradigm shifts rather than linear accumulation, and drew on perceptual psychology—including Stratton's inverting-lens experiments—to illustrate how scientists literally see the world differently across paradigms.
Introduced the concept of 'paradigm shifts' to explain discontinuous scientific change
Developed the notion of 'normal science' as puzzle-solving within an accepted framework
Argued for the incommensurability of competing scientific paradigms
Used perceptual psychology (Stratton, Hanson) to ground claims about theory-laden observation
Redefined the history of science as a discipline with philosophical implications
If the adaptation were visual, a visual negative aftereffect would be expected upon lens removal
premiseStratton's world came to look 'right side up' after adaptation because things were felt where they were visually perceived to be
premiseThe absence of a visual negative aftereffect when the inverting lenses were removed indicates no visual recalibration occurred
claimAdaptation to Stratton's inverting lenses is primarily proprioceptive and kinaesthetic rather than visual
If the adaptation were visual, a visual negative aftereffect would be expected upon lens removal
premiseStratton's world came to look 'right side up' after adaptation because things were felt where they were visually perceived to be
premiseThe absence of a visual negative aftereffect when the inverting lenses were removed indicates no visual recalibration occurred
claimAdaptation to Stratton's inverting lenses is primarily proprioceptive and kinaesthetic rather than visual