A paradigm shift is a significant change in thinking or approach, often achieved through an epiphany. It can occur in scientific, political, social, or personal contexts and can lead to progress. It does not necessarily mean everyone agrees, as some groups may continue to refute changes even after they have been debunked. Examples include the acceptance of plate tectonics and the development of Newtonian physics and Einstein’s theory of relativity.
Usually, the word “paradigm” is used to describe a pattern of thinking or a methodology that exists during a certain period of time. When scientists refer to a scientific paradigm, they are talking about the prevailing system of ideas that was dominant in a scientific field at a particular time. When a person or a field has a paradigm shift, it means that they are no longer using the old ways of thinking and approaching, but have decided on a new approach, often achieved through an epiphany. When the paradigm is pronounced, it has a silent “g” and sounds like “pare-eh-dime”. Groups experiencing paradigm shifts can be social groups, such as political or religious groups, as well as groups engaged in scientific discourse.
Shifts in thought paradigms have shaped scientific, political and social progress throughout history. When a group experiences a paradigm shift, this means that something that was widely accepted by the group at large is no longer accepted. It usually refers to a significant change that affects the basis of other related information, especially that which has been inferred from the old paradigm and is incorrect with respect to the new one. This type of change can occur when irrefutable evidence emerges that a leading theory is incorrect, or if a group member finds new information that forces the group to reinterpret its universal position. Examples of major events that caused scientific paradigm shifts include the acceptance of the theory of plate tectonics in geology and the development of Newtonian physics and Einstein’s theory of relativity.
Although a man named Thomas Kuhn popularized the current use of the word to refer to dramatic changes in scientific thinking, the word is often used by individuals to describe a major shift in personal thinking. If a clueless person suddenly decides to pursue excellence in their career, or if a heavy drinker decides to give up the bottle and spend more time with their children, those people may say they have had a paradigm shift that has led them to their life changes. People may also experience shifts in their religious paradigms and decide to start or stop engaging in religion, change their religion, or reorient how they view religious beliefs within an existing framework. Some people feel that this usage is incorrect and dilutes the true meaning of the word.
A paradigm shift does not mean that everyone has agreed to go along with it. Some groups engaged in scientific discourse continue to refute changes in scientific thinking long after their positions have actually been debunked to an extent that most of the general public are satisfied. An example of this might be a group promoting the acceptance of alchemy as a viable science, or a group that continues to promote the belief that the Earth is flat despite evidence that it is indeed round.
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