Paradigm
- For alternative meanings see Paradigm (disambiguation).
From the late
1800s the word
paradigm refers to a thought pattern in any
scientific disciplines or other
epistemological context. Initially the word was specific to
grammar: the 1900
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines its tecnicla use only in the context of grammar or, in rhetoric, as a term for an illustrative
parable or
fable.
The best known use of the word in the context of a scientific discipline was by
philosopher Thomas Kuhn who used it to describe a set of practices in science. It was and is widely abused. Kuhn himself came to prefer the terms exemplar and
normal science, which have more exact philosophical meaning. However, in his book
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions Kuhn defines a scientific paradigm as:
- What is to be observed and scrutinized.\n*The kind of questions that are supposed to be asked and probed for answers in relation to this subject.\n*How these questions are to be put.\n*How the results of scientific investigations should be interpreted.
The formally-defined term
groupthink, and the term
mindset, have very similar meanings that apply to smaller and larger scale examples of disciplined thought.
Michel Foucault used the terms
episteme and
discourse, mathesis and taxinomia, for aspects of a "paradigm" in Kuhn's original sense. Read more about this in the
paradigm shift,
sociology of knowledge and
philosophy of science articles, where these words are placed in context.
Other Uses
\nProbably the most common use of the word paradigm is in the sense of Weltanschauung. For example, in social science, the term is used to describe the set of experiences, beliefs and values that affect the way an individual perceives reality and responds to that perception. Social scientists have adopted the Kuhnian phrase "paradigm shift" to denote a particular social phenomena rather than what was originally meant by Kuhn's study on the practices and development of science. Even occultists, notably chaos magicians, use the term - to describe a shift in personal belief systems concerning magic (magic theory).
Some language purists feel that among "business philosophers" and advocates of any type of change whatsoever, the term paradigm is so widely abused that it bears no meaning whatsoever. Some believe it should be abolished from the English language.
Etymology
\nThe word paradigm comes from the Greek word παράδειγμα (paradeigma) which means "pattern" or "example", from the word παραδεικνύναι (paradeiknunai) meaning "demonstrate".
Quote
\n* Paradigm "is a word too often used by those who would like to have a new idea but cannot think of one."
—Mervyn King, Deputy Governor, Bank of England
See Also
\nMacrocosm/microcosm
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