Thomas Kuhn's Theory of Scientific Revolutions

Thomas Kuhn's Theory of Scientific Revolutions suggests that science doesn't progress in a straight line but rather through a series of shifts, or "paradigm shifts." A paradigm is a set of beliefs and practices that define a scientific field. When existing paradigms fail to explain new observations, a revolution occurs, leading to the adoption of a new paradigm, which changes how scientists understand and investigate the world. This process emphasizes that scientific knowledge is socially constructed, influenced by cultural and historical contexts, rather than just a cumulative accumulation of facts.