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Paradigm Shift

Scientific revolutions occur when there is a paradigm shift in the prevailing views of science. A paradigm shift happens when one theory replaces another, opening up an entirely new field of study. According to Thomas Kuhn, normal science operates within an established paradigm, but over time anomalies emerge that the existing paradigm cannot explain, eventually leading to a crisis and a shift to a new paradigm. Kuhn argued that science progresses through these paradigm shifts, as later theories offer more precise predictions and fruitful areas of research compared to earlier theories.

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770 views20 pages

Paradigm Shift

Scientific revolutions occur when there is a paradigm shift in the prevailing views of science. A paradigm shift happens when one theory replaces another, opening up an entirely new field of study. According to Thomas Kuhn, normal science operates within an established paradigm, but over time anomalies emerge that the existing paradigm cannot explain, eventually leading to a crisis and a shift to a new paradigm. Kuhn argued that science progresses through these paradigm shifts, as later theories offer more precise predictions and fruitful areas of research compared to earlier theories.

Uploaded by

Danny Felix
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Paradigm Shift

and Scientific
Revolution
SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
Was a series of events that marked the emergence of modern science
during the early modern period, when developments in mathematics,
physics, astronomy, biology, and chemistry transformed the views of
society about nature.
Paradigm shift are at the core of scientific revolutions. When the
prevailing view on something changes, it opens up a whole new field
of study, bringing with it new ways of doing things.
Stages of Scientific
Revolution
Paradigm Shift
The term “paradigm Shift” was coined by the American
philosopher Thomas Kuhn (1922 – 19996). It is one of the
central concepts in his hugely influential work, “the
structure of scientific revolution”, published in 1962.
A paradigm shift occurs when one paradigm theory is
replaced by another.
Example of
Paradigm Shift
Causes of Paradigm Shift
Once a paradigm theory is established, those working within it can start doing what Kuhn calls
“normal Science”. This covers most scientific activity. Normal science is the business of solving
specific puzzles, collecting data and making calculations. Normal Science includes:
 Working out how far each planet in the solar system is from the sun
 Completing the map of the human genome
 Establishing the evolutionary descent of a particular species
But every so often in the history of science, normal science throws up anomalies – results that
cant easily be explained within the dominant paradigm. But sometimes the inexplicable results
start piling up, and this eventually leads to what Kuhn describes as a “crisis”. This Crisis lead to
Paradigm Shift.
Science progress through Paradigm Shift
Kuhn believes in scientific progress since he
believed that later theories are usually better than
earlier theories in that they are more precise, deliver
more powerful predictions, offer fruitful research
program and are more elegant.

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