Study Guide: Chapter 13 — Progress through Revolutions

Core Concept

Science progresses from primitive beginnings, not toward a goal — Darwin applied to knowledge. Puzzle-solving power grows undeniably; "closer to truth" does no explanatory work. Progress is real, directional, and goalless.

Key Terms

Progress-from · evolutionary analogy · instrumental progress · no-miracles argument (rival)

Case Summary

Kuhn's design spec for a progressive field: shared exemplars, peer-only judgment, insulation from lay demands, education-driven turnover — community structure, not method, explains success.

Application Checklist

• [ ] Reframe one goal from "find the right X" to "increase solving capacity"
• [ ] Identify which of your fitnesses is adapted to a shifting environment
• [ ] Strip a hidden "destination" from your team's definition of progress

Self-Test

1. What two senses of progress does Kuhn separate?
2. How does the evolutionary analogy answer "why does science work?"
3. The structural-realist compromise on this chapter?