Thomas Kuhn`s Paradigm Theory

In the fond perceptions , paradigms don t die they develop varicose veins and get fitted with cardiac pacemakers . - Frederick EricksonThe cin one casept of a paradigm ro hold was first introduced by Thomas Kuhn in his 1962 book The organize of Scientific Revolutions to describe a revolutionary change in the sphere of science that would forever change the common and universally accepted set of laws and assumptions with which natural scientist approach their subject and consider their material in their attempt to understand the natural populace . Although Kuhn himself limited the use of this concept to the sphere of natural sciences , many a(prenominal) scholars of the humanities have often success ripey made use of the concept in their respective fields . However Kuhn had doubts to the highest degree such random applications of the theory and these doubts are based on some well thought out argumentsFor instance , contrasted a natural scientist , a student in the humanities has constantly before him a number of competing and incommensurable solutions to these problems , solutions that he must ultimately examine for himself (The Structure of Scientific Revolutions . A natural scientist on the other hand sight never consider or work with theories of earlier paradigm once a paradigm shift is complete . hence a natural scientist cannot work with the theory of light being inherited through ether once that paradigm has ceased to exist and simmer down claim his hearations of the material to be correct . Nor is he allowed the sumptuosity of believing that the sun circles round the earth once a paradigm shift regarding this has occurred . A student of the humanity , withal can still apply the Aristotelian theories of tragedy to a modern-day tragedy or make use of Marxism to interpret and explain economic occurrences . This is because , unlike in the hard sciences , in the humanities there are no absolute redress or wrong .

The relativity of the laws of humanities is what makes them , according to Kuhn , discordant for the application of the concept of paradigm shiftAccording to Kuhn a Paradigm can be doctord as a fundamental picture show of the subject matter within a science . It serves to define what should be studied , what questions should be asked , how they should be asked , and what rules should be followed in interpreting the answers obtained . The paradigm is the broadest unit of consensus within a science and serves to differentiate one scientific corporation (or sub community ) from another . It subsumes , defines , and interrelates the exemplars , theories and methods and instruments that exist within it . However , Kuhn problematizes this description by further defining `paradigms as exemplars , that is , concrete solutions to scientific problems and puzzles . This definition has in mind definitive laboratory experiments that serve as models or milestones for scientists . But few social sciences have laboratory experiments that can function as exemplars or concrete solutions to puzzles . Thus the theory of `paradigm shift has little applicability to the social sciences according to Kuhn where few `revolutions occur , at least in the Kuhnian sense of the termNevertheless the concept of...If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Orderessay

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