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Atomism and The Illusion of Crisis: The Danger of Applying Kuhnian Categories to Current Particle Physics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2022

R. E. Hendrick  and
Anthony Murphy
R. E. Hendrick
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Department of Philosophy, St. Bonaventure University
Anthony Murphy
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Department of Philosophy, St. Bonaventure University
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Abstract

This paper responds to a recent claim by Shrader-Frechette that current particle physics, with its essentially atomist paradigm, is in a state of Kuhnian crisis. We respond to Shrader-Frechette's claim in two ways: first, we argue directly against much of the evidence used by Shrader-Frechette as indicators of Kuhnian crisis; second, we question Shrader-Frechette's application of Kuhnian categories to current research in general, pointing out the dangers inherent in such an analysis.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 48 , Issue 3 , September 1981 , pp. 454 - 468
Copyright
Copyright © 1981 by the Philosophy of Science Association

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