The term "paradigm" is a relatively new concept (although it is rooted in the ancient world).
A paradigm can be thought of as a filter or lens through which we view the world. Said another way, a paradigm is an internal mental phenomenon though which we structure and make sense of our lives. It is sometimes equated with the term "world-view."
In 1962 Thomas Kuhn - an historian and philosopher of science - offered an analysis of how scientific systems change (or don't). His book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, rocked the intellectual world by introducing the concept of "paradigm." Although Kuhn's focus was on the world of scientific inquiry, we have come to realize that it applies more broadly - to individuals and the world at large. In other words, the reality of paradigms applies not merely to scientists, but to all people.
Paradigms can be thought of as our assumptions about reality. Generally, they are so pervasive that they form an invisible web of beliefs about the world which we take to be reality. Paradigms function as guides that are unconscious - mental models that shape everything we think, feel and do.
To raise paradigm issues is to reflect on the ideas that map our reality: our worldview, life perspective and philosophy.
It follows that once we realize paradigms exist, it is essential that we examine them with a critical, discerning eye. We can learn to perceive the blueprints we are using to build our worlds.
In addition, we can remember that paradigms are social constructions ("world-views") which determine how we shape our culture. Individual, national, and global paradigms are permeable and often overlap.
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