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In the modem sense of the term, the origin of paradigm is to be fund in ThomasKuhn’s 1962 book called, The structure of scientific revolutions. The conceptis best understood against the background of the problem that Kuhn addresses,namely the nature of growth and development in the sciences — especially thephysical sciences. According to Kuhn, the history of the physical sciencesdisplays a clearly discernible pattern of periods of so-called normal sciencefollowed by scientific revolutions; these are, in turn, followed by a period ofnormal science, and so on.Free download from www.hsrcpress.ac.zaNormal scienceKuhn maintains that, if we look at the history of the physical sciences, it isalways possible to identify the theories or theoretical systems that can beregarded as the origin of a given science. In this manner Ptolemaios’ theory ofastronomy, the Aristotelian theory of motion, Lyell’s geological theory,Franklin’s theory of electricity, Newton’s theory of optics, Stahl’s phlogistontheory, and Darwin’s theory of evolution, represent the origins of variousdisciplines. In the periods preceding the general acceptance of such a theory,we almost invariably find that there were a number of competing theories orpoints of view. These periods are characterized by an absence of unanimityregarding which of the competing theories ought to be accepted as the correctone. In the field of optics, for example, before Newton’s work in the latter partof the seventeenth century, there were proponents of the theories of Aristotle,Epicurus, and Descartes who all claimed that their theory was able to explainthe fundamental nature of light.When, however, a specific theory is developed at a given stage which appearsable to offer satisfactory solutions to real empirical problems we have,according to Kuhn’s usage, entered the phase of normal science. While the preparadigmaticphase is characterized by lengthy debates that tend to be rathermethaphysical or sphilosophical in nature, i.e. questions concerning the realnature of the phenomena that are studied in a given discipline, we find thatonce the period of normal science has been entered, these fundamentalquestions are set aside, and specific theoretical or empirical issues are tackled.Normal science is, therefore, research that is based upon certain scientificachievements, achievements that are acknowledged and accepted by a givenscientific community as the basis for further research. Kuhn refers to theseachievements as paradigms. By choosing (paradigms), I mean to suggest thatsome accepted examples of actual scientific practice — examples whichinclude law, theory, application and instrumentation together — providemodels from which spring particular coherent traditions of scientific research(1970: 10).Normal science may, therefore, be defined as the practice of scientific researchwithin, and from, the frame of reference supplied by a dominant paradigm,145