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Carnap, Kuhn, and revisionism: on the publication of Structure in Encyclopedia

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Abstract

In recent years, a revisionist process focused on logical positivism can be observed, particularly regarding Carnap’s work. In this paper, I argue against the interpretation that Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions having been published in the International Encyclopedia of Unified Science, co-edited by Carnap, is evidence of the revisionist idea that Carnap “would have found Structure philosophically congenial”. I claim that Kuhn’s book, from Carnap’s point of view, is not in philosophy of science but rather in history of science (in the context of a sharp discovery–justification distinction). It could also explain the fact that, despite his sympathetic letters to Kuhn as editor, Carnap never refers to Kuhn’s book in his work in philosophy of science.

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Correspondence to J. C. Pinto de Oliveira.

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Pinto de Oliveira, J.C. Carnap, Kuhn, and revisionism: on the publication of Structure in Encyclopedia . J Gen Philos Sci 38, 147–157 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10838-007-9034-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10838-007-9034-9

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