Paradigms shape scientific progress from "summary" of The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas S. Kuhn
The development of science is often seen as a linear progression, with each new discovery building upon the knowledge that came before it. However, Kuhn argues that this view overlooks the role that paradigms play in shaping scientific progress. According to Kuhn, paradigms are the accepted theories, methods, and assumptions that guide scientific research within a particular discipline. These paradigms not only determine which questions are worth asking, but also dictate the methods that are used to answer them. In this way, paradigms act as a kind of framework that shapes the direction of scientific inquiry. When a new paradigm emerges that challenges the prevailing one, it can lead to a scientific revolution. During these revolutions, old paradigms are replaced by new ones, fundamentally changing the way that scientists approach their research. Kuhn argues that these shifts are not just a matter of adding new knowledge to the existing framework, but rather a complete reorganization of scientific understanding. As a result, Kuhn suggests that scientific progress is not a straightforward march towards truth, but rather a series of revolutions that reshape our understanding of the world. These revolutions are driven by the emergence of new paradigms that offer a different way of looking at the same evidence. While Kuhn's ideas have been controversial, they have had a profound impact on the philosophy of science. By emphasizing the role of paradigms in shaping scientific progress, Kuhn has challenged the idea of science as a purely objective pursuit of truth. Instead, he suggests that scientific knowledge is always shaped by the prevailing paradigms of the time.
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