The paradigm, or world view, that the earth was fixed at the center of the universe is the classic example of how difficult it is to "Think Outside the Box", and how persuasive current paradigms are in maintaining themselves.

Lateral ThinkingLateral thinking is a term coined by Edward de Bono, a Maltese psychologist, physician and writer. It first appeared in the title of his book New Think: The Use of Lateral Thinking, published in 1967.

De Bono defines lateral thinking as methods of thinking concerned with changing concepts and perception. Lateral thinking is about reasoning that is not immediately obvious and about ideas that may not be obtainable by using only traditional step-by-step logic.

There are four critical factors linked with it. They are:1. Recognize dominant ideas that polarize perception of a problem2. Searching for different ways of looking at things,3. Relaxation of rigid control of thinking4. Use of chance to encourage other ideas

Paradigm: 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.

Paradigms & Paradigm ShiftsIn The Structure of Scientific Revolutions Thomas Kuhn argued that science is not a steady, cumulative acquisition of knowledge. Instead, science is "a series of peaceful interludes punctuated by intellectually violent revolutions" [Nicholas Wade, writing for Science], which he described as "the tradition-shattering complements to the tradition-bound activity of normal science."

After such revolutions, "one conceptual world view is replaced by another" [Wade].

Thomas KuhnParadigm shift is the term first used by Thomas Kuhn in his 1962 book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions to describe a change in basic assumptions within the ruling theory of science.

It has since become widely applied to many other realms of human experience as well.

A scientific revolution occurs, according to Kuhn, when scientists encounter anomalies which cannot be explained by the universally accepted paradigm within which scientific progress has thereto been made. The paradigm, in Kuhn's view, is not simply the current theory, but the entire worldview in which it exists, and all of the implications which come with it.

There are a number of "classical cases" given for examples of Kuhnian paradigm shifts in scienceThe transition from a Ptolemaic cosmology to a Copernican one.The acceptance of Plate tectonics as the explanation for large-scale geologic changes.

The transition between the worldview of Newtonian physics and the Einsteinian Relativistic worldview.

The term "paradigm shift" has found uses in other contexts, representing the notion of a major change in a certain thought-pattern a radical change in personal beliefs, complex systems or organizations, replacing the former way of thinking or organizing with a radically different way of thinking or organizing.

The phrase has been abused in "marketing speak", and is often considered a meaningless buzzword in this context.

This is now so widespread that Larry Trask lists it in his book Mind The Gaffe as a phrase never to use, and he advises caution when reading anything that contains this phrase.

During periods of normal science, the primary task of scientists is to bring the accepted theory and fact into closer agreement. As a consequence, scientists tend to ignore research findings that might threaten the existing paradigm and trigger the development of a new and competing paradigm. For example, Ptolemy popularized the notion that the sun revolves around the earth, and this view was defended for centuries even in the face of conflicting evidence. In the pursuit of science, Kuhn observed, "novelty emerges only with difficulty, manifested by resistance, against a background provided by expectation."

A fundamental theme of Kuhn's argument is that the typical developmental pattern of a mature science is the successive transition from one paradigm to another through a process of revolution. When a paradigm shift takes place, "a scientist's world is qualitatively transformed [and] quantitatively enriched by fundamental novelties of either fact or theory.New paradigms always provide an improvement, not just a different explanation.A new paradigm completely expunges the old, previous, paradigm.

The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, SpainFrank Gehry, Architect

Herman Miller Aeron chairdesigned by Don Chadwickand Bill Stumpf

Herman Miller Eames Loungedesigned by Charles and Ray Eames

Hand made cork lounge, left, made by Daniel Michalikmade of waste cork from the factories where corks are made

Ford Model Tyou can have it in any color you want as long as that is black

The Aston Martin Vanquish