The transition from classical physics to modern physics according to Thomas Kuhn

Abstract

Thomas Kuhn, the philosopher of science, became prominent in the mid-twentieth century by advocating an epistemology based on the history of science. His best-known work, “The Structure of Scientific Revolutions” has had a major impact on the scientific community by supposing that science does not progress continually through the substitution of theories but does so through ruptures of paradigms. According to Kuhn, scientific development goes through a period of deepening (normal science) followed by a culminating crisis, the paradigm break (scientific revolution). This paper sought to show that the transition from Classical Physics to Modern Physics, where the Newtonian paradigm breaks down, clearly exemplifies Kuhn's theory.