As a continuation of Wednesday conversation about paradigms, paradigm shifts, and Thomas Kuhn, I wanted to add that I feel a paradigm shift is in the eye of the beholder. We would probably all agree that the Copernican Revolution was a major paradigm shift in relation to how the world is conceptualized in relation to the universe. However, I feel that depending on a person’s varied traits, beliefs and interests, something that could mean nothing to one person in the way they view the world, could be a paradigm shift according to another.
Additionally, I would argue that paradigm shifts can be very personal and provoke a lot of emotion. While some people back in the day may have gotten emotional about eliminating the geocentric ring view of the earth, today we are faced with many more paradigm shifts with the rapidly advancing field of science. When looking up common paradigms the issues of faith in god vs. faith in science was brought up up. Also creation to revolution is considered a major paradigm shift.
I am interested in not only the different kids of paradigm shifts that are out there ( some grand, some smaller scale) but I am interested to hear how paradigms shifts have affected or affect your life today.
I agree that paradigm shifts are in the eye of the beholder, and thats what makes it such a hard topic to discuss because it differs so much from person to person on some topics, while others there seems to be a consensus of sorts.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I agree with the whole 'eye of the beholder thing', mainly because you wouldn't really call it a paradigm shift if there wasn't some sort of consensus on it. Of course, there will always be outliers, but for the most part a paradigm shift is usually all encompassing.
ReplyDeleteWhat paradigm shifts affect me today? Well, as a Computer Science major, I am lucky enough to be going into the field right around the end of a paradigm shift. The change from computers being a non-networked entity to a portal to the internet is the paradigm shift that most effects me. In fact, during my internship this summer I will be pioneering new and interesting ways of integrating a program called Solidworks with new internet-based technologies.
I agree with Evan in that a paradigm shift is not really in the "eye of the beholder". Because it does need a consensus of some sort for it to happen. And usually over several generations. I do agree that each person affected can definitely be emotionally provoked and can affect the paradigm shift, but overall a consensus is needed.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the largest paradigm shift that is affecting me right now (as well as most Americans) is the recession that we are in right now.
I agree with the premise that paradigm shifts are in the eye of the beholder but there also seems to be a consensus among the practice of recording that paradigm shift. For example as cell phone technology advances a person greatly affected by the invention of texting might say that we are in the era of texting whereas someone else may simply lump it into the cell phone era, and others still may still may believe that this only a minor shift in the RF technology revolution. Perhaps their are paradigms within paradigms (but I am digressing). I believe that how a group comes to a consensus on this largely revolves around their relationship with that shift and that the historical view of a paradigm shift has to be determined after it is largely over.
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