The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
by Thomas S. Kuhn

VII - Crisis and the of Scientific .

As is the case with discovery, a change in an existing that results in the invention of a new is also brought about by the of anomaly. The of a new is by the failure of the puzzles of science to be solved as they should. Failure of existing rules is the prelude to a search for new ones. These failures can be brought about by observed discrepancies between and fact or changes in social/ climates Such failures are generally long recognised, which is why crises are seldom surprising. Neither problems nor puzzles yield often to the first attack. Recall that and resist change and are extremely resilient. of science have repeatedly that more than one can always be placed upon a given collection of . In early stages of a , such are easily invented. Once a is entrenched (and the tools of the prove useful to solve the problems the ), are strongly resisted. As in manufacture so in science-retooling is an extravagance to be reserved for the occasion that demands it. Crises provide the opportunity to retool.

(A Synopsis from the orginal by Professor Frank Pajares, Emory University)