Thomas S. Kuhn's "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions" argues that scientific progress does not occur through a continuous accumulation of knowledge, but rather through disruptive shifts called paradigm shifts. These revolutions involve a fundamental change in the basic concepts and experimental practices of a scientific discipline.
The book introduces the concept of normal science, a period where scientists work within an established paradigm, solving puzzles. However, anomalies that cannot be explained by the existing paradigm eventually lead to a crisis, culminating in a scientific revolution where a new paradigm replaces the old one.
Key concepts
- Paradigm — A shared set of assumptions, theories, and methodologies that guide scientific inquiry within a specific field.
- Normal Science — The period of scientific activity characterized by puzzle-solving within an established paradigm.
- Anomaly — An observation or experimental result that contradicts the predictions of the prevailing scientific paradigm.
- Scientific Revolution — A period of profound upheaval in scientific understanding that results in the overthrow of an old paradigm and the establishment of a new one.
- Paradigm Shift — The fundamental change in the basic concepts and experimental practices of a scientific discipline.