A Few Notes on Methodology

Thomas Kuhn

• Kuhn’s phases of science: Normal science is defined by the existence of a paradigm. A paradigm consists of all the theories, concepts, methods and so on that a scientific discipline takes for granted.
• Pre-paradigmatic phase
• Normal science
• Crisis
• Scientific revolution

Foucault

• Science cannot be separated from power. Power is not wielded by a few individuals over the many, but something to which everyone is subjected.
• Difference between episteme and paradigm:
• Paradigm is conscious, episteme unconscious
• Paradigm in a single discipline, episteme in all of science
• Paradigm is shorter than episteme
• The set of unconscious rules that govern all serious scientific discourse in a certain society and time period and determine what does and what does not get taken seriously by that scientific community.