gestalt

Paradigm is a central concept of Kuhns philosophy of science that described in a holistic structure. Kuhns appeal to this concept is in fact a dissolution, not solution, of empiricists analytical puzzles and his historical and socialogical puzlles make a real revolution in the literature of philosophy of science which needs time to show its entire face and its final consequences. Kuhn in defining Paradigm is closely and clearly influenced by Gestalt psychology and though this concept has not the same application in the Kuhns literature but Kuhn always use it to reflect the holistic aspects of scientific knowledge. this article by revision of several usages of this concept will discuss from holism as their common element. In the debate of capacities and limitations of kuhns holistic approach we first review his attempts for elimination some vaguenesses and then evaluate his seccess.

In Ideology and Utopia(1936), Mannheim expresses the constituents of sociology of knowledge. He believes that the process of knowledge is influenced by social processesthat is socialprocess penetrates deep into perspective of thought. Sociology of Knowledge is the theory of the social determination of knowledge except scientific knowledge. In The structure of Scientific Revolutions(1962),Thomas Kuhn uses similar method to study of scientific knowledge. He showssociological constituents have a big effect on the formation and development of science.This article is comparative study of Kuhn’s theory about scientific knowledge and Mannheim’s sociology ofknowledge.