APPENDIX Z63: Paradigm Challenges
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APPENDIX Z63:
Paradigm Challenges
Comments on Wikipedia
review of the 1962 classic, The
review of the 1962 classic, The
Structure of Scientic Revolutions by Thomas S. Kuhn
(Univ. Of Chicago Press)
[Note that Birnbaum proposes a new paradigm
metaphysics, not a new paradigm scientic theory;
however, the Birnbaum metaphysics fully wraps-around
and integrates-with science.]
Note to reader:
We are going to present
six excerpts from the Wikipedia
six excerpts from the Wikipedia
article, followed by the Birnbaum “take”.
Excerpt (A):
“…Kuhn argued for an
episodic model in which periods
episodic model in which periods
of such conceptual continuity
in normal science were
in normal science were
interrupted by periods of
revolutionary science. During
revolutionary science. During
revolutions in science
the discovery of anomalies leads
the discovery of anomalies leads
to a whole new paradigm
that changes the rules of the
that changes the rules of the
game and the “map”
directing new research, asks new
directing new research, asks new
questions of old data,
and moves beyond the puzzle-
and moves beyond the puzzle-
solving of normal science….”
(A) The Birnbaum “take”:
A proposed paradigm shift “raises the stakes.”
If the new paradigm is more authentic than the prior, the
entire eld emerges more
dynamic and overarching. If
dynamic and overarching. If
the new paradigm is less authentic, the entire eld
is set
is set
back.
Excerpt (B):
“…Kuhn’s book argues that the evolution of scientic
theory does not emerge
from the straightforward
from the straightforward
accumulation of facts,
but rather from a set
of changing
but rather from a set
of changing
intellectual circumstances
and possibilities….”
and possibilities….”
(B) The Birnbaum “take”:
For my part, I would call this “a conceptual
breakthrough”
breakthrough”
Excerpt (C):
“Coherence”
One of the aims of science is to nd models that
will
will
account for as many observations as possible
within
within
a coherent framework….”
THE TRANSCENDENT DYNAMIC
(C) The Birnbaum “take”:
With an important caveat:
With no serious aws or glaring
With no serious aws or glaring
gaps.
Excerpt (D):
“…As a paradigm is stretched to its limits, anomalies
— failures of the current paradigm
to take into account
to take into account
observed phenomena —
accumulate…. But no matter
accumulate…. But no matter
how great or numerous the anomalies
that persist, Kuhn
that persist, Kuhn
observes, the practicing
scientists will not lose faith
in
scientists will not lose faith
in
the established paradigm
for as long as no credible
for as long as no credible
alternative is available….”
“…In any community of scientists, Kuhn states, there
are some individuals
who are bolder than most. These
who are bolder than most. These
scientists, judging that
a crisis exists, embark on
what
a crisis exists, embark on
what
Thomas Kuhn calls revolutionary science, exploring
alternatives to long-held,
obvious-seeming assumptions.
obvious-seeming assumptions.
Occasionally this
generates a rival to the established
generates a rival to the established
framework of thought…
The majority of the scientic
The majority of the scientic
community will oppose
any conceptual change….
any conceptual change….
Those scientists who
possess an exceptional ability
possess an exceptional ability
to recognize a theory’s potential will
be the rst whose
be the rst whose
preference is likely to shift in favor of the challenging
paradigm. There typically follows a period
in which
in which
there are adherents of both paradigms.
In time, if the
In time, if the
challenging paradigm is
solidied and unied, it will
solidied and unied, it will
replace the old paradigm, and a paradigm
shift will have
shift will have
occurred….”
(D) The Birnbaum “take”:
Note that typically the contemporaneous ‘scientic
community’ refuses to acknowledge the objectively
unacceptable limitations of the old paradigm.
Excerpt (E):
“Incommensurability”
“According to Kuhn,
the scientic paradigms preceding
the scientic paradigms preceding
and succeeding a
paradigm shift are so
different
paradigm shift are so
different
that their theories
are incommensurable — the
new
are incommensurable — the
new
paradigm cannot be
proven or disproven by
the rules of
proven or disproven by
the rules of
the old paradigm, and
vice versa…. The paradigm shift
vice versa…. The paradigm shift
does not merely involve the revision or
transformation of
transformation of
an individual theory, it changes the way terminology is
dened…. The new
theories were not, as the
scientists
theories were not, as the
scientists
had previously thought,
just extensions of old
theories,
just extensions of old
theories,
but were instead completely new world views….
It is
It is
simply not possible,
according to Kuhn, to
construct an
according to Kuhn, to
construct an
impartial language that
can be used to perform a
neutral
can be used to perform a
neutral
comparison between conicting
paradigms, because
paradigms, because
the very terms used
are integral to the respective
are integral to the respective
paradigms… The competition
between paradigms is
between paradigms is
not the sort of battle that can be resolved
by proofs.”
by proofs.”
Scientists subscribing to
different paradigms end up
different paradigms end up
talking past one
another….”
another….”
(E) The Birnbaum “take”:
I might say slightly differently:
201 APPENDIX
The new can effectively challenge the old.
On the merits.
The old is unable to
challenge the new on the merits.
challenge the new on the merits.
The new cannot ‘prove’
the new – yet.
the new – yet.
Excerpt (F):
“…Kuhn saw that for a new candidate for paradigm
to be accepted by a scientic community…
1) the new candidate must seem to resolve some
outstanding and generally recognized problem that
can be met in no other way.
2) the new paradigm must promise to preserve a
relatively large part of the concrete problem solving
activity that has accrued to science through its
predecessors.
3) overall Kuhn maintained that the new paradigm
must also solve more problems
than its predecessor,
than its predecessor,
which therefore entailed
that the number of newly
that the number of newly
solved problems must be greater
than those solved in
than those solved in
the old paradigm….”
(F) The Birnbaum “take”:
All three are true in
Summa’s case.
Summa’s case.
