Module 11

Week 11

 

I hope you’re enjoying reading the Kuhn text so far. If you don’t have your book yet, you’ll need to expedite obtaining your copy so you don’t get behind. I found this full-text version online and you could get started with this in a pinch, but I’m not familiar with the website it’s housed on, nor can I vouch for whether or not it is a full and complete copy:

 

https://www.lri.fr/~mbl/Stanford/CS477/papers/Kuhn-SSR-2ndEd.pdf

 

This week, please finish reading Kuhn. As you read, keep in mind the state of our world today. Are there aspects of our present world that seem to be undergoing “revolutionary” changes of world view? Paradigm shifts? Take notes as you read.

 

For your Term Project in this class, you’ll be choosing one of the hallmarks of Modernity noted last week: freedom, equality, progress, democracy, science… elements of the founding world view that defined the American Experiment at its very beginning. How has your chosen element of America’s founding world view evolved from the 1700s until today? What are some historical examples that demonstrate just how strong a thread this element is in defining the vision and values of “America” – i.e. the USA? Is the element as compelling to people today as it was in the 1700s? Is there evidence it is going through a paradigm shift? 

 

As you read the second half of Kuhn, keep these kinds of questions in mind. Then, in addition to sharing your thoughts on Kuhn in a blog post, please choose one of the 5 elements of America’s founding world view as your focus for you Term Project and answer these questions:

 

1) Which element will be your focus: freedom, equality, progress, democracy, or science?

 

2) Identify three specific historical examples that demonstrate the importance of this element in the context of the Modern American world view. For example, historical events from the American civil rights movement would demonstrate the importance of equality as a component of the Modern American world view. 

 

3) Identify at least one way in which this element of the Modern American world view is being challenged in the 21^stcentury. For example, current events involving climate denialism would demonstrate a challenge to science as a component of the Modern American world view.

 

Reflecting on Kuhn’s description of how change happens, and answering these three questions about key elements of the Modern world view, will help prepare you to get started on your Term Project next week.