Paradigm

Definitions of paradigm on the Web:

An example or pattern, especially an outstandingly clear or typical example or archetype.
www.sei.cmu.edu/opensystems/glossary.html

A "view" of how things work in the world. In Risk Scenarios or Threat Scenarios, paradigms are used to set the basic rules of how the world works so that the solutions can be set within some boundaries.
www.mc2consulting.com/riskdef.htm

From the Greek word paradhma (paradigma), the term paradigm was introduced into science and philosophy by Thomas Kuhn in his landmark book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962). Essentially, a paradigm is simply the predominant worldview in the realm of human thought. For instance, today we would say that we live within an evolutionary paradigm since evolution is the predominant worldview regarding origins.
www.apologetics.org/glossary.html

"A paradigm is a set of rules and regulations (written or unwritten) that does two things: 1) it establishes or defines boundaries; and 2) it tells you how to behave inside the boundaries in order to be successful". (Joel Arthur Barker) "A shared set of assumptions. The paradigm is the way we perceive the world; water to the fish. The paradigm explains the world to us and helps us to predict its behavior.
www.miqel.com/text/twholedefs.html

an example or pattern that exists as the prevailing principle for a school of thought.
www.woodrow.org/teachers/esi/1998/r/health/glossary.htm

The most commonly accepted definition of paradigm is that of Thomas Kuhn who describes a paradigm as the set of common beliefs and agreements shared between scientists about how problems should be understood and addressed [Kuhn, 1962].
http://www.iua.upf.es/~xamat/Thesis/html/node2.html

The recipe or model that links the elements of a theory together and shows, where possible, the nature of the relationships.
http://www.lhfm.salford.ac.uk/students/Stratman/glossary_ntor.htm

is a conceptual model that is used to communicate descriptions of the component parts of a theory, a policy, a belief system or a worldview and how they interact and are interrelated.
http://www.greeleynet.com/~cnotess/gloss.htm

a system of scientific interpretation which is embedded in a cultural worldview and implicitly favors certain ways of carrying out and evaluating scientific research.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Troy/1895/Glossary.html

(Excerpts from a recent conversation I had with my parents)
We each have our own paradigm. It causes us to react in different ways to different ideas. If an idea, concept or belief fits our paradigm, we take it in, accept it as truth and use it to reinforce our beliefs. If it is something that challenges our paradigm, or makes us uncomfortable, we quickly dismiss it or set it aside as untrue. The geniuses and exceptional people are able to take in different ideas equally, whether or not they fit in with their existing paradigm. In doing so, they are able to learn and grow from things that would have automatically been dismissed. At the same time, they are able to challenge things that would have automatically been accepted as truth.

How is your paradigm shaping the way you see the world?

How do you react when you hear something that challenges your worldview??

How do you achieve a balance between believing in something and still being able to challenge those beliefs???

JE