Paradigms?

Question

The topic of 'paradigm' was being taught the other day in class. I still wasnt exactly clear on what it was/did/ type of situations it could occur in. From how I understood it, I thought the bible would be a good comparison to a paradigm. the teacher just looked at me like i was nuts.

But even after reading definitions of what a paradigm is, I can still see things such as: religion, the bible, media, and our associates for ex., as paradigms.
So... am i getting this or am i nuts ?

What exactly is a paradigm? Can the Bible stand for a substantial paradigm?

Answer 1

A paradigm is a point of view. Definitely one's religion forms one's paradigm of the world. However, I can see why your teacher would give you a funny look if he/she is a religious person. Because admitting that religion is a paradigm would be admitting that there are other paradigms out there which are just as valid. A Buddhist paradigm would be just as valid as a Christian paradigm and there would be no way to test which one is correct.

If you remember all those optical illusions which are contrived to look like to things (i.e. is it a flock of birds or a school of fish; is it an old or a young woman etc.) these illustrate what a paradigm is. Neither is actually true.

There are those however who would say that there are no such things as paradigms. Something is always either true or false. It can only be a flock of birds or a school of fish. It can only be either there is a God or there isn't.

Answer 2

par·a·digm (păr'ə-dīm', -dĭm')
n.
One that serves as a pattern or model.
A set or list of all the inflectional forms of a word or of one of its grammatical categories: the paradigm of an irregular verb.
A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them, especially in an intellectual discipline.
[Middle English, example, from Late Latin paradīgma, from Greek paradeigma, from paradeiknunai, to compare : para-, alongside; see para–1 + deiknunai, to show.]

USAGE NOTE Paradigm first appeared in English in the 15th century, meaning “an example or pattern,” and it still bears this meaning today: Their company is a paradigm of the small high-tech firms that have recently sprung up in this area. For nearly 400 years paradigm has also been applied to the patterns of inflections that are used to sort the verbs, nouns, and other parts of speech of a language into groups that are more easily studied. Since the 1960s, paradigm has been used in science to refer to a theoretical framework, as when Nobel Laureate David Baltimore cited the work of two colleagues that “really established a new paradigm for our understanding of the causation of cancer.” Thereafter, researchers in many different fields, including sociology and literary criticism, often saw themselves as working in or trying to break out of paradigms. Applications of the term in other contexts show that it can sometimes be used more loosely to mean “the prevailing view of things.” The Usage Panel splits down the middle on these nonscientific uses of paradigm. Fifty-two percent disapprove of the sentence The paradigm governing international competition and competitiveness has shifted dramatically in the last three decades.

So no, the Bible itself is not a paradigm but the way of thinking from it (Christianity) can be seen as being a paradigm.

Answer 3

A paradigm is a specific way of seeing the world. A world-view. It is an individual's unique perspective, through which they filter all other information.

God Bless.

Answer 4

A paradigm is basically what someone believes.

For instance lets say that you are a Christian and I am an Agnostic.

You strongly believe in Jesus as your savior but I dont know if there is or isnt a God and Im perfectly fine with that.

Your paradigm has the belief of god in it and mine doesnt.

Now lets say u wanted me be become a Christian but although it is easy for you to be a Christian, it is difficult for me to be converted. (because my paradigm is different)

Now lets say an Atheist tried to convert you. It would be hard for you to become an Atheist because you believed in Jesus for all your life and he didnt.

Paradigms are pretty much the solid beliefs that one has(which differ from others and are difficult to change)

Answer 5

Not yet.It seems you are ahead of times.Still time for a Bible to come in to the category.