Paradigmelor

Paradigmelor is a neologism used in philosophy of science and science studies to denote the higher-order structure of knowledge within a field. It refers to the system by which multiple paradigms, norms, and evaluative criteria interlock to shape what counts as legitimate research, valid methods, and acceptable evidence.

The term implies more than a single paradigm; it frames the field as organized around a network of coexisting models and practices. A paradigmelor includes shared standards for data, experimentation, and analysis, as well as the normative expectations that guide publication, peer review, and funding priorities. It also encompasses the tacit assumptions about what problems are meaningful and how progress should be measured.

In practice, the paradigmelor helps explain why fields exhibit both coherence and tension. It can stabilize inquiry by aligning subfields under common standards, while simultaneously allowing competing paradigms to persist in different communities. When anomalies arise, the paradigmelor may adapt through partial integration, boundary-spanning research, or gradual shifts in criteria for evidence, potentially paving the way for paradigm change or synthesis.

Scholarly reception of the concept is mixed. Proponents argue that paradigmelor provides a useful lens for analyzing scientific continuity, change, and the social dimensions of knowledge. Critics contend that the idea risks overstating coherence or creating a meta-framework that is difficult to test empirically. The concept is often discussed in relation to Kuhn, Lakatos, and other theories of scientific change.