In The Structure of Scientific Revolutions Kuhn developed a novel and interesting account of the dynamics of scientific change, one that was deeply at odds with the assumptions that had previously informed the outlook of philosophers of science. To many of his readers it seemed that whenever Kuhn denied a widely accepted philosophical assumption about science, he offered a paradox in its place.

To begin with, Kuhn alleged that scientific knowledge was not cumulative. He is famous for drawing our attention to what has come to be called “Kuhn-loss,” the “knowledge” allegedly lost when one theory replaces another. Yet he adamantly insisted that there is scientific progress.