The Emerging paradigms Are changes or transitions from one paradigm (model) to another, which occur through revolution and constitute the pattern of development of sciences and societies in general.
A paradigm is a group of concepts, patterns, theories or postulates that represent a contribution to a field of knowledge. The word"paradigm"comes from two Greek terms 'for', which means 'together' and 'deiknumi', which means 'to show, to point out'; Also, this term comes from the Greek paradeigma that means"example, sample or pattern".
Originally, the term"paradigm"was used by the Greeks in texts such as Plato's Timaeus to refer to the pattern that the gods followed to create the world.
Emerging paradigms tend to appear due to the presence of variations or anomalies. In this sense, the emerging paradigms give rise to the creation of new theories that are capable of supplanting the previous theories, while proposing explanations for the anomalies that generated its appearance.
In this sense, paradigms are transformations that occur when the usual way of thinking or acting changes and is replaced by a new and different form.
Origin of the term"emerging paradigm"
The term"emerging paradigms"was proposed by Thomas Kuhn , Physicist, philosopher and historian of science, born in Cincinnati in 1922. He studied physics at Harvard and graduated as summa cum laude in 1943; Later, returned to this university and obtained its doctorate in physics in 1949.
Thomas Kuhn
In 1962, he published the book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (The Structure of Scientific Revolutions), in which the term"emerging paradigm"appears for the first time.
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions Changed the thinking of many scientists and influenced in such a way that today the term"emerging paradigms", originally paradigm shift, is widely known.
For the development of this concept, Thomas Kuhn was inspired by the theories of the psychologist Jean Piaget , Who pointed out that the development of children was composed of a series of stages marked by periods of transition.
Phases of development of science
According to Kuhn, paradigms are approaches that propose a way forward for the scientific community. Kuhn goes deeper into the structure of science and explains that these alternate between two periods: normal and the revolutionary.
Normative phase
The normative phase occurs when there is a model that allows to explain the observed reality. At this point, members of the scientific community share a framework for research, a disciplinary matrix or paradigm.
In accordance with Ian Hacking, Philosopher, during this phase science does not seek to solve the anomalies that may arise, but rather"discover what it wants to discover."
The problem is that when many anomalies accumulate, scientists begin to question the paradigm and it is at this moment that begins the period of crisis in which scientists are willing to test any theory to solve the anomalies.
Revolutionary phase
On the other hand, the revolutionary phase occurs when in reality anomalies arise that the pre-established model can not explain, giving rise to the development of a new one; This is how emerging paradigms are born.
These new paradigms replace the deficient paradigm and, once accepted, return to the normative phase. In this sense, science is a cyclical activity.
Emerging paradigms and the social sciences
It should be noted that for Kuhn, the concept of emerging paradigms excludes the social sciences. In fact, in the preface to his book, the author explains that he developed this term to make a difference between the natural sciences and the social sciences.
Kuhn justifies this position by asserting that within the social sciences there is no consensus as to the nature of scientific problems and the methods to be employed. That is why these sciences could not follow a model or paradigm.
Examples of emerging paradigms
The heliocentric theory constitutes an emerging paradigm since it changed the way of analyzing reality. To begin with, the heliocentric theory of Copernicus Made it possible to explain why the planets seemed to be moving backwards when the position of the planets was studied.
In addition, this theory Ptolemy's geocentric theory ; Is to deir, it was accepted that the sun was the center of the system and that the planets, including the Earth, revolved around them.
However, Copernicus's theory was not fully developed since this philosopher argued that the planets moved in cyclic orbits. In this sense, another paradigm emerges that replaces that of Copernicus and states that the planets move in elliptical orbits.
Likewise, Darwin's theory of species evolution, natural selection, and the survival of the fittest, are emerging paradigms.
Emerging Paradigms Today
Today, emerging paradigms are part of every aspect of society, not just the natural sciences, as Thomas Kuhn originally put it.
There are paradigms in the business world, in the social sciences or in culture, among others. For example, in the social sciences, specifically in linguistics, there is the paradigm of postpositivism.
In this regard, Robert Rulford wrote in a column of The Globe and Mail That the paradigms do not stop in a single area of knowledge, but move from science to culture, from culture to sport and from sport to business.
Impediments to emerging paradigms
The major impediment to the development of emerging paradigms is the"paralysis of a paradigm." This term refers to the rejection of new models of analysis of reality, sticking to the existing models even if they are not able to explain the anomalies. An example of this was the initial rejection of Copernicus's heliocentric theory.
References
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- Paradigm Shift in Social Sciences and Qualitative Research in Applied Linguistics in Turkey. Retrieved on April 6, 2017, from researchgate.com.
- Paradigm Shift. Retrieved on April 6, 2016, from explorable.com.
- Thomas Kuhn: the man who changed the way the world looked at science. Retrieved on April 6, 2017, from theguardian.com.
- What is a paradigm shift. Retrieved on April 6, 2017, from taketheleap.com.