Kuhn vs. Popper: The Struggle for the Soul of Science is a 2003 book by the sociologist Steve Fuller, in which the author discusses and criticizes the philosophers of science Thomas Kuhn and Karl Popper. The book was published by Columbia University Press.

Kuhn vs. Popper: The Struggle for the Soul of Science (Revolutions in Science)
AuthorSteve Fuller
LanguageEnglish
SeriesRevolutions in Science
SubjectsThomas Kuhn, Karl Popper
PublisherColumbia University Press
Publication date
2003
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Hardcover and Paperback)
Pages160
ISBN978-0231134286

Summary

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Fuller uses the 1965 meeting between the philosophers Thomas Kuhn and Karl Popper, in which they discussed the philosophy of science, as a point of departure to discuss how their respective philosophies have been received by the media, the public, and scholars.

Reception

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Kirkus Reviews called it a "succinct yet in-depth inquiry into a significant philosophical issue".[1] In the "Journal of Critical Realism" the book was defined as "smart, engaging and well written but also (...) skates along the surface of the subject matter".[2] The Journal "Nuncius" said that the book's aim "...is to invite readers to a critical examination of the wide ranging sociological and cultural implication of ideas, with particular emphasis on their consequences in time".[3]

The philosopher Rupert Read called the book worthless, and wrote that it presented an over-simplified and distorted view of both Popper and Kuhn.[4] The Economist wrote that the book was not thorough enough to be convincing.[5]

The mass circulation US magazine Popular Science made the book 'Book of the Month' in February 2005.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "KUHN VS. POPPER THE STRUGGLE FOR THE SOUL OF SCIENCE". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  2. ^ Morgan, Jamie (15 May 2009). "Kuhn vs. Popper: The Struggle for the Soul of Science. By Steve Fuller". Journal of Critical Realism. 8 (2): 258–260. doi:10.1558/jocr.v8i2.258. S2CID 140331630.
  3. ^ Gattei, Stefano (1 January 2006). "STEVE W. FULLER, Kuhn vs Popper: the struggle for the soul of science (Revolutions in Science). Duxford: Icon Books, 2003. iv+236 pp., ISBN 1-84046-468-2". Nuncius. 21 (2): 423–425. doi:10.1163/182539106X01068.
  4. ^ Read, Rupert (September 2005). "Book Review: How and How Not to Write on a "Legendary" Philosopher". Philosophy of the Social Sciences. Vol. 35, no. 3. pp. 369–387. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
  5. ^ "Book Review: Kuhn vs. Popper". The Economist. Aug 7, 2003. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
  6. ^ Gregory Mone (2005-02-01). "(Not Quite a) Rumble in the Theoretical Jungle". Popsci.com. Retrieved 2017-01-23.

Reviews

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