Thomas Kuhn, Hyperbole, and the Ashtray: Evidence of Morris' Faulty Memory

TY - JOUR

T1 - Thomas Kuhn, Hyperbole, and the Ashtray

T2 - Evidence of Morris' Faulty Memory

AU - Wray, K. Brad

PY - 2023/1

Y1 - 2023/1

N2 - Errol Morris has claimed that Kuhn threw an ashtray at him during a dispute about some matter in the history of science. Morris also claims that Kuhn threw him out of the graduate program at Princeton for disagreeing with him. I argue that Morris' attack on Kuhn contains some degree of hyperbole. Further, I present evidence that shows that Morris is mistaken about key events during this period. In fact, Kuhn was supportive of Morris in his pursuit of a career in the history of science.

AB - Errol Morris has claimed that Kuhn threw an ashtray at him during a dispute about some matter in the history of science. Morris also claims that Kuhn threw him out of the graduate program at Princeton for disagreeing with him. I argue that Morris' attack on Kuhn contains some degree of hyperbole. Further, I present evidence that shows that Morris is mistaken about key events during this period. In fact, Kuhn was supportive of Morris in his pursuit of a career in the history of science.

KW - Thomas Kuhn

KW - Errol Morris

KW - history of science

U2 - 10.1017/psa.2022.20

DO - 10.1017/psa.2022.20

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0031-8248

VL - 90

SP - 196

EP - 199

JO - Philosophy of Science

JF - Philosophy of Science

IS - 1

ER -