Paradigms in the History of Science

Abstract

The following pages will deal with the term paradigm as described by Thomas Samuel Kuhn (18 July 1922–17 June 1996) in the context of the history and epistemology of science. Paradigm-shifts or ‘scientific revolutions’ are analysed and their application in natural and social sciences is shown. Basically, the concept of paradigm implies several interpretations, but it generally includes a scientific community in a defined field which shares common aims and criteria during a certain period of time. These periods are called “normal science”. The replacement of one paradigm by another is known as a “scientific revolution” or “crisis period”. Kuhn proposes the incommensurability concept. This means that every paradigm has its own internal logic. Therefore the criteria of one paradigm cannot be applied to another one. As a consequence, each paradigm comprehends different world-views. The aim of this chapter is to study the reasons for a paradigm-shift as a basis for its analysis in cartography.