A paradigm shift refers to a fundamental change in the way people view and understand the world, often resulting from new discoveries, advancements, or shifts in societal values. It represents a complete transformation in the underlying assumptions, beliefs, and methodologies that guide thinking and behavior within a particular field or society as a whole. When a paradigm shift occurs, it challenges the [[Cognitive Foundation]] of the entire community. The term "paradigm shift" was coined by [[Thomas Kuhn]], an American physicist and philosopher of science, in his influential book "[[@StructureScientificRevolutions1970|The Structure of Scientific Revolutions]]" published in 1962. Kuhn argued that scientific progress does not occur through a linear accumulation of knowledge but rather through revolutionary shifts in thinking. He proposed that scientific communities operate within specific paradigms or dominant frameworks of thought until anomalies arise that cannot be explained by existing theories. These anomalies lead to a crisis, which eventually results in the emergence of a new paradigm that better explains the phenomena. # According to Thomas Kuhn, how can a paradigm shift be detected? According to [[Thomas Kuhn]], a paradigm shift can be detected through several indicators. Firstly, there may be anomalies or problems within the existing paradigm that cannot be easily resolved or explained by the current scientific framework. These anomalies challenge the dominant theories and may lead to a growing sense of dissatisfaction within the scientific community. Secondly, there may emerge alternative theories or frameworks that offer a different explanation for the observed phenomena. These alternative theories often provide a new perspective and offer solutions to the existing problems that were previously unexplained. Thirdly, there is a shift in scientific consensus and acceptance among the scientific community. As more scientists start adopting and advocating for the new theory or framework, it gains credibility and support. Lastly, there may be changes in scientific practices and methodologies as a result of the new theory. This could include new experimental techniques, measurement tools, or research approaches that are better aligned with the new paradigm. Overall, these factors contribute to a gradual accumulation of evidence and support for the new theory, leading to a paradigm shift in scientific thinking. ## What is a Kuhn Cycle? The Kuhn Cycle, also known as the Kuhnian Paradigm Shift, is a concept proposed by philosopher and historian of science Thomas Kuhn. It describes the progression of scientific knowledge and understanding in different stages. According to Kuhn, scientific progress does not always occur in a linear and continuous manner. Instead, it goes through a cyclical pattern consisting of three main phases: 1. Normal Science: In this phase, scientists work within an established scientific paradigm or framework. They conduct research, solve puzzles, and build upon existing knowledge based on the accepted theories and assumptions of the time. Normal science aims to refine and expand the existing paradigm rather than challenge its foundations. 2. Crisis: Over time, anomalies or problems within the existing paradigm may accumulate. These anomalies cannot be easily explained or resolved within the current framework, leading to a sense of crisis within the scientific community. The crisis phase is characterized by a growing recognition that the current paradigm is insufficient to explain certain phenomena or address new questions. 3. Paradigm Shift: When the crisis becomes severe enough, it can lead to a paradigm shift - a radical change in scientific thinking. During this phase, a new paradigm emerges that offers a different set of assumptions, explanations, and methods than the previous one. This shift often involves significant changes in how scientists perceive and approach their field of study. The Kuhn Cycle suggests that scientific progress occurs through these cycles of normal science followed by crises and paradigm shifts. Each new paradigm opens up new avenues for research and understanding while replacing older paradigms that have become outdated or inadequate. It is important to note that Kuhn's ideas have been subject to debate and criticism within the philosophy of science community. Some argue that his model oversimplifies scientific progress or fails to account for other factors influencing scientific change. Nonetheless, his work has had a significant impact on how we understand the dynamics of scientific revolutions and shifts in knowledge paradigms. # How's Kuhn Cycle related to DevOps or CICD The Kuhn Cycle, also known as the technology adoption lifecycle, is a model that describes the stages of adoption and acceptance of new technologies. It consists of four main phases: invention, development, maturity, and obsolescence. The Kuhn Cycle is related to DevOps or CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) in the context of software development and deployment. Here's how they are connected: 1. Invention: In this phase, new technologies or methodologies are invented or discovered. Similarly, DevOps and CI/CD practices were developed as a response to the challenges faced in traditional software development and deployment approaches. 2. Development: Once a new technology or methodology is invented, it goes through a period of development to refine its concepts and practices. Similarly, DevOps and CI/CD practices underwent continuous refinement to optimize software development processes through automation, collaboration, and feedback loops. 3. Maturity: After going through the development phase, technologies reach a stage where they become widely accepted and adopted by organizations. Likewise, DevOps and CI/CD practices have gained maturity over time as more organizations recognized their benefits in terms of increased agility, faster time to market, improved quality, and better collaboration between teams. 4. Obsolescence: Eventually, technologies become outdated or replaced by newer innovations. Similarly, while DevOps and CI/CD practices are currently widely adopted in many organizations, there might be future advancements that could render them obsolete or drive the need for further evolution. Therefore, the Kuhn Cycle provides a framework for understanding how new technologies like DevOps or CI/CD are introduced into the software development industry and progress through different stages of adoption and acceptance. ## Incommensurability decides on paradigm shift [[Incommensurability]] plays a significant role in Thomas Kuhn's paradigm shift literature. Kuhn argues that during a scientific revolution, there is a shift from one paradigm to another, and these paradigms are incommensurable with each other. Incommensurability refers to the inability to compare or measure two things using a common standard. In the context of Kuhn's work, it implies that different scientific paradigms cannot be directly compared or evaluated based on shared criteria. This is because each paradigm has its own set of assumptions, methodologies, and concepts that shape how scientists perceive and understand the world. According to Kuhn, during periods of normal science, scientists work within an established paradigm and share a common framework for conducting research. However, when anomalies arise that cannot be explained within the existing paradigm, it leads to a crisis in science. These anomalies challenge the prevailing assumptions and theories and create a sense of dissatisfaction within the scientific community. During this crisis, alternative paradigms start emerging as scientists explore new ways of understanding and explaining phenomena. However, since these new paradigms are incommensurable with the old one, direct comparisons or evaluations become difficult. The new paradigm introduces new concepts, methods, and frameworks that fundamentally challenge the existing understanding of reality. Kuhn suggests that during a paradigm shift, scientists undergo a cognitive transformation where they must unlearn old habits of thinking and adopt new ways of approaching problems. This process involves a radical change in perspective and often requires scientists to abandon previously held beliefs or theories. In summary, incommensurability plays a central role in Kuhn's notion of scientific revolutions or paradigm shifts. It highlights how different scientific paradigms are fundamentally incompatible due to their distinct assumptions and methodologies. Understanding this concept is crucial for comprehending how scientific knowledge progresses through periods of crisis and revolution in Kuhn's framework. # Conclusion Kuhn's concept of paradigm shifts has been extended beyond scientific disciplines and is now widely used to describe transformative changes across various domains such as technology, business, culture, and society. It highlights the significance of challenging established beliefs and embracing new ways of thinking to drive progress and innovation. # References ```dataview Table title as Title, authors as Authors where contains(subject, "paradigm shift") or contains(subject, "Kuhn Cycle") or contains(subject, "Meme Management") sort title, authors, modified ```