Science Is Not What You Think
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
by Thomas S. Kuhn
Philosophy
TL;DR
Kuhn drops the mic on the idea that science is just a straight line of progress. Nah, fam, it's more like a series of epic glow-ups followed by total meltdowns. He shows how old ways of thinking get yeeted when enough weird stuff happens, leading to a whole new vibe for how we see the world. It's about groupthink, glitches, and then hitting the reset button on reality. Basically, science is less about 'truth' and more about collective agreement until the anomalies pile up and force a paradigm shift – a complete change in how we even ask questions. It's a wild ride of normal science (the grind), crises (the meltdown), and revolutions (the hard reset).
Action Items
Pick one routine task you do daily (like making breakfast or commuting) and try to optimize it by 5% without changing the core method. Just make it smoother or faster.
Notice one small thing today that doesn't quite fit your expectations or usual patterns. Don't try to fix it or explain it away, just observe it and acknowledge its weirdness.
Identify one area in your life where the 'old way' isn't working anymore and acknowledge the chaos. Don't fix it, just admit it's a mess and that you're in a 'crisis' phase for that specific thing.
Think about one belief or habit you hold that, if completely flipped, would change a major part of your life. Just imagine what that 'hard reset' would look like, even if you don't do it.
Find someone with a radically different perspective on a topic you care about. Try to understand their viewpoint, even if you don't agree, and notice where your fundamental assumptions clash and make communication difficult.
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Key Chapter
Chapter - The Pre-Paradigm Period & Normal Science: Before the Vibe Check
Before science gets its act together, it's a chaotic mess, like a bunch of toddlers in a sandbox, each with their own rules and no one agreeing on what 'digging' even means. But then, someone drops a game-changing idea – a 'paradigm' – and suddenly everyone's playing by the same rules. This is 'normal science,' where everyone's just solving puzzles within the established framework. Think of it like a video game with clear objectives: you're not questioning the game's physics, you're just trying to beat the level. It's about refining what we already know, not blowing up the whole system. This period is crucial because it builds the foundation, even if it feels a bit like being stuck in a loop.
Key Methods and Approaches
The Daily Grind
(AKA: Normal Science)
Description:
The everyday grind where everyone agrees on the basic rules and just tries to solve puzzles within that agreed-upon framework. It's about refining what's already there, not inventing new stuff.
Explanation:
Imagine your brain is a phone battery. Normal science is when you're just chilling, scrolling TikTok, doing the usual stuff. You're not trying to invent a new phone, just using the one you got. It's about optimizing what's already there, not questioning the whole damn operating system. It's comfortable, predictable, and kinda boring, but it gets stuff done.
Examples:
Using the same workout routine for months and just trying to lift heavier or run faster.
Sticking to your usual coffee order and just trying to get it faster or cheaper.
Following a recipe exactly to bake a cake, not trying to invent a new dessert.
Today's Action:
Pick one routine task you do daily (like making breakfast or commuting) and try to optimize it by 5% without changing the core method. Just make it smoother or faster.
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