Paradigm shift

From RationalWiki

A paradigm shift is a phenomenon described by philosopher Thomas Kuhn in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.

Kuhn posited a process to explain the persistence of incorrect ideas, and the seemingly rapid and sudden abandonment of these ideas when they finally are rejected.

People tend to believe in what they know, and science is basically conservative. A current "paradigm" or theory is difficult to dislodge. It takes either a large volume of evidence, or a particularly powerful single piece of evidence to overturn major scientific theories (scientific revolution). When this occurs, it is called a "paradigm shift".

[edit] Examples

• Copernican revolution
• Relativity
• Quantum mechanics
• Plate tectonics

[edit] Misuses and Criticisms

Creationists, New Agers, and other pseudoscientists often reference Kuhn when citing the supposed "fragility" of scientific theories, although for some reason, the only theory that is found to be fragile is evolution, rather than something truly fragile like Intelligent design. Supporters of vitalism and the like often pull the same crap; it amounts to nothing more than trying to move the goalposts, claiming that some area (God, the soul, whatever) is off-limits to scientific inquiry.