Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 12:57:56 -0500
From: "Robert G. Grimes" <grimes@fcol.com>
To: christopher_l._turner@hud.gov
Subject: Re: What is a 'paradigm'?
christopher_l._turner@hud.gov wrote:
> (meme group: speaking of 'memetic engineering'..)
>
> Can anyone refer me to, or supply, a rigorous definition of the term
> 'paradigm', in the sense of "a well-defined world view - based
> behavior pattern", or something similar.
>
> Thanks,
> Chris Tuner
Dear Chris,
It is my understanding that the term originated with Thomas
Kuhn in 1962
(The Structure of Scientific Revolutions) and was used as
terminology for "puzzle solving" as the explanation of the
activity of science and was applied to the methods used
strictly by scientists. Later, usage was expanded by others
to include just about any new plan, hypothesis or model with
no reference to its ratherf intrinsic heuristic development
or the principle of "explanatory coherence," whereby the new
proposition "fitted in" or supported older functioning
explanations of activity, i.e., added to previous
foundations and thereby gained strength by furthering
previous discoveries or propositions. Thus, paradigm and
the principle of explanatory coherence would tend to support
the memetic characteristics, i.e., stimulate replication by
others because "it worked," and further evolution of the
basic science by the pragmatic route of being a "puzzle
solution."
Cordially,
Bob
-- Bob Grimeshttp://members.aol.com/bob5266/ http://www.hotwired.com/members/profile/bobinjax/ http://www.phonefree.com/Scripts/cgiParse.exe?sID=28788 Jacksonville, Florida Bob5266@aol.com robert.grimes@mailexcite.com
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore....."
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