paradigmum

Paradigmum is a term used in speculative philosophy of science to denote a meta-framework that governs how scientific paradigms are formed, evaluated, and replaced. In this view, paradigmum shapes the criteria for what counts as a problem, what evidence is admissible, and which methods are considered legitimate, thereby influencing when and how a field undergoes a paradigm shift.

Origin and etymology: The word follows a Latinized formation of paradigm, itself derived from Greek paradeigma. As a theoretical construct, paradigmum is not widely adopted in formal doctrine but appears in discussions about the upper-level conditions that guide scientific change.

Key features include normative guidance, social and institutional factors, and methodological standards that constrain inquiry at the paradigm level. Unlike a single paradigm, paradigmum describes the governance of change across multiple paradigms and across communities, disciplines, and technologies.

Relationship to established ideas: Paradigmum intersects with Kuhn's concept of scientific revolutions and is sometimes invoked when analyzing interdisciplinarity, reproducibility debates, or the emergence of new research programs. It provides a lens to study how meta-criteria influence which anomalies count and how communities interpret them.

Criticism and limitations: Critics argue that paradigmum can be too vague to measure and may risk conflating social dynamics with epistemic inference. Operationalizing the concept is challenging, and consensus on its scope remains limited.

See also: paradigm, scientific revolutions, metaparadigm, metascience.