Thomas Kuhn's Paradigm Shift

Thomas Kuhn's concept of a "paradigm shift" describes a fundamental change in the framework of scientific understanding. Initially, scientists operate within a prevailing paradigm, which guides research and interpretation of data. However, when anomalies arise that cannot be explained by the existing paradigm, a crisis occurs. This can lead to a transformative shift, where a new paradigm emerges, replacing the old one. In terms of confirmation theory, this illustrates that scientific theories are not just confirmed through data but can be radically redefined when faced with persistent contradictions, reshaping our understanding of reality.