Read the passage and answer the questions:
"Normal science, the activity in which most scientists inevitably spend almost all their time, is based on the assumption that the scientific community knows what the world is like. Scientists take great pains to defend that assumption, often restricting their vision to the phenomena that the existing paradigm has defined as relevant. When research proceeds in this fashion, findings tend to be incremental, reinforcing the established framework rather than challenging it. Yet, over time, anomalies—empirical observations that cannot be explained within the current paradigm—accumulate. Initially, these anomalies are dismissed as errors or as problems to be solved within the existing theoretical structure. However, as these anomalies grow in number and significance, they begin to erode confidence in the prevailing paradigm.
The resolution of such crises is not a straightforward process of falsification, as Popper might suggest, but rather a transformation in the very way scientists see the world. Scientific revolutions occur when a new paradigm emerges—one that is not merely an extension of the old but a fundamental reconceptualization of reality. This shift is not purely logical or empirical; it involves a radical change in perspective, akin to a gestalt switch. The Copernican Revolution, for example, did not merely adjust astronomical calculations; it redefined the very framework through which celestial motion was understood. Similarly, Einstein's theory of relativity did not just modify Newtonian mechanics but replaced its foundational assumptions about space and time.
What is the best synonym for "incommensurable" in the sentence:
"What makes these revolutions particularly striking is that competing paradigms are often incommensurable."
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
Correct Answer
Irreconcilable
Explanation
To find the best synonym for "incommensurable" based on the context of Thomas Kuhn's philosophy of scientific revolutions described in the passage:
Definition: Incommensurable means lacking a common basis or standard of comparison. In the context of competing paradigms, it means they are so fundamentally different in their assumptions, languages, and methods that they cannot be directly compared or measured against one another.
Analysis of Options:
Irreconcilable: Means incapable of being brought into harmony or adjustment; incompatible. This perfectly captures the essence of incommensurable paradigms—they represent a "fundamental reconceptualization of reality" and a "gestalt switch," making them impossible to reconcile or blend together.
Comparable / Parallel: These are opposite to the intended meaning, as they imply the paradigms share common ground, metrics, or frameworks.
Disjointed: Means disconnected or lacking orderly continuity. While competing paradigms are disconnected, "disjointed" refers more to structure or coherence (like a poorly written essay) rather than a fundamental clash of core concepts.
Key Points
Contextual Clue: The passage highlights that a new paradigm is "not merely an extension of the old but a fundamental reconceptualization of reality." This means the old and new ways of thinking are completely irreconcilable.
Exam Shortcut: If two things require a complete "gestalt switch" to move between them, they cannot exist harmoniously at the same time. Irreconcilable is the strongest semantic match for this philosophical barrier.