Paradigms. Thinking Styles. Research Programs. How Does Science Change?

Paradigms. Thinking Styles. Research Programs. How Does Science Change? - Beata Wojciechowska

Science as a form of human knowledge has always sought to explain causes and mechanisms behind observed phenomena and described them in various aspects. Changes, discoveries, and findings in science have accompanied the emergence of new theoretical concepts and ideas that have influenced research programmes and thinking styles. Under certain socio-cultural circumstances, these processes shaped concepts and terms in different epochs, creating paradigms of scientific cognition. They were an important element of discourse in many areas. The history of science also records significant moments – radical and rapid changes in paradigms. Following the methodological nomenclature of T. Kuhn, they can be named as scientific revolutions. Certain research programmes enjoy greater stability, whereas others become less prevalent. The aims of the present work are: to show different grounds and research possibilities in the development of multiple scientific concepts in their historical context; to reveal the mechanisms underlying the changes in science and their course in the past and present times; to discuss the formation and functioning of various ideas, values, and innovations in the past. In particular, we are interested in various case studies of paradigm changes on a small and large scale. We want the work to have: firstly, a multi-disciplinary character, thus respecting the methodological separateness of the humanities, natural, theological, philosophical, and social sciences; secondly, interdisciplinary, that is, researching possible relationships that exceed traditional boundaries between domains of knowledge.