Single Idea 17397

[catalogued under 14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 4. Paradigm]

Full Idea

The history of the periodic system appears to be the supreme counterexample to Kuhn's thesis, whereby scientific developments proceed in a sudden, revolutionary fashion.

Gist of Idea

The periodic system is the big counterexample to Kuhn's theory of revolutionary science

Source

Eric R. Scerri (The Periodic Table [2007], 03 'Rapid')

Book Reference

Scerri,Eric R.: 'The Periodic Table' [OUP 2007], p.67


A Reaction

What is lovely about the periodic table is that it seems so wonderfully right, and hence no revolution has ever been needed. The big theories of physics and cosmology are much more precarious.