Kuhnian revolutions in neuroscience: the role of tool development.
Published version
Peer-reviewed
Repository URI
Repository DOI
Change log
Authors
Parker, David https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5345-348X
Abstract
The terms "paradigm" and "paradigm shift" originated in "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions" by Thomas Kuhn. A paradigm can be defined as the generally accepted concepts and practices of a field, and a paradigm shift its replacement in a scientific revolution. A paradigm shift results from a crisis caused by anomalies in a paradigm that reduce its usefulness to a field. Claims of paradigm shifts and revolutions are made frequently in the neurosciences. In this article I will consider neuroscience paradigms, and the claim that new tools and techniques rather than crises have driven paradigm shifts. I will argue that tool development has played a minor role in neuroscience revolutions.
Description
Keywords
Kuhn, Neuroscience, Optogenetics, Paradigm, Paradigm shift, Revolution
Journal Title
Biol Philos
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
0169-3867
1572-8404
1572-8404
Volume Title
33
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
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Sponsorship
The work received no funding