Black-Body Theory and the Quantum Discontinuity, 1894–1912 explained

Black-Body Theory and the Quantum Discontinuity, 1894–1912
Border:	yes
Author:	Thomas S. Kuhn
Country:	United States
Language:	English
Subject:	Quantum mechanics
Published:	1978 (Oxford University Press, first edition) 1987 (University of Chicago Press, second edition)
Media Type:	Print (Hardcover and Paperback)
Pages:	356
Isbn:	0-19-520091-8
Isbn Note:	(first edition) 0-226-45800-8 (second edition)

Black-Body Theory and the Quantum Discontinuity, 1894–1912 (1978; second edition 1987) is a book by the philosopher Thomas Kuhn, in which the author surveys the development of quantum mechanics. The second edition has a new afterword.

Summary

Kuhn surveys the development of quantum mechanics by Max Planck at the end of the 19th century.^[1] He argues that Planck misread his own earlier work.

Reception

Alexander Bird describes Kuhn's book as "masterly", writing that it "differs from traditional history of science less in the kind of explanation offered and more in the vast erudition and scholarly attention to detail displayed."^[2]

According to philosopher Tim Maudlin, Planck and the Black Body Discontinuity (sic) "is a mixed bag: some good historiography and some poor analysis."^[3]

Notes and References

1. Book: Hacking, Ian . Kuhn, Thomas S. . The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, 50th anniversary edition . The University of Chicago Press . Chicago . 2012 . vii, viii . 978-0-226-45812-0 .
2. Book: Bird, Alexander . Thomas Kuhn . Princeton University Press . Princeton, New Jersey . 2000 . 1, 215, 281, 299 . 0-691-05710-9 .
3. Web site: Horgan . John . Philosophy Has Made Plenty of Progress: Philosopher Tim Maudlin sees advances in free will, morality and the meaning of quantum mechanics . 2023-01-01 . Scientific American Blog Network . en.