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The Paradigm Concept and Sociology: A Critical Review

Douglas Lee Eckberg
Lester Hill Jr.

Abstract

The thesis of this paper contends that many sociologists who have attempted to apply Kuhn’s argument in analyzing the status of sociology have misunderstood, or have refused to accept the central meaning of his paradigm concept. In this paper we first clarify the notion of paradigm as explicated by Kuhn and by Margaret Masterman, and note that the »exemplar« is the central element in the concept. We then analyze the usage of the concept by sociologists who have attempted to ascertain the paradigmatic status of sociology and we focus in particular on the work of Friedrichs and that of Ritzer. In so doing, we show that they have concentrated almost exclusively on the less important, more general meanings of the paradigm concept and thus lose the major thrust of Kuhn's argument. Possible reasons for this misuse are discussed. Finally, we argue that sociology has relatively few exemplars, lacks a clear-cut puzzle-solving tradition, and tends to operate from discipline-wide perspectives. In this regard, sociology is not a mature science; attempts to treat it as such within Kuhn’s framework are misdirected.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

155638

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/155638

Publication date:

30.9.1988.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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