Paradigms in Geography

In any subject, whether it’s physics, psychology, or geography, there exists a dominant way of thinking at a particular time—a framework that shapes how problems are identified, how research is done, and what kinds of answers are considered acceptable.

This dominant intellectual framework is called a Paradigm.

So, a paradigm is like the lens through which the scholars of a discipline view the world.
It tells them what to study, what questions to ask, and what tools to use.

For example, if you’re wearing red glasses, everything will appear reddish—likewise, your paradigm colors how you interpret reality.

In geography, paradigms tell us:

• Which concepts to focus on (space? place? environment?)
• What relationships to study (man-nature? economy-space?)
• What methods to use (qualitative or quantitative?)

📚 Kuhn’s Paradigm Theory – A Revolution in Understanding Science

Now enters the main hero of this framework—Thomas Kuhn, an American historian and philosopher of science.

Kuhn proposed a model to understand how science grows and changes over time, which is now fundamental not just in science but in social sciences like geography too.

Let’s unpack Kuhn’s theory stage by stage:

1. Pre-Paradigmatic Stage

This is the chaotic phase.
Imagine early geography—different scholars having different opinions, methods, and goals. No single approach is accepted as “correct.”

It’s like a debate where everyone is talking, but no one agrees.
Each group (school of thought) is proposing its own solutions, and there’s a struggle for intellectual supremacy.

In this multi-paradigmatic environment, conflict is common, but it’s also creatively fertile—new ideas emerge through this competition.

2. Professionalization

Eventually, one school of thought wins.
Why? Because it:

• Asks more relevant or appealing questions,
• Offers better tools or explanations,
• Solves existing problems more convincingly.

This school becomes the dominant paradigm.

Example: When Quantitative Revolution emerged, it dominated over earlier descriptive approaches by offering clarity and precision.

Now, scholars rally around this paradigm, and the field enters a more focused phase. Research becomes specialized and organized.

3. Paradigm Phase

This is the golden age of consensus.

Everyone’s mostly on the same page. Scholars share:

• A common language,
• A set of accepted methods,
• A clearly defined problem area.

It leads to rapid and deep research, but within the boundary of the accepted paradigm. Think of it as a busy workshop where everyone is contributing to one big machine.

But here’s the catch: this phase is productive, but rigid. It doesn’t welcome contradictions easily.

4. Temporary Dark Phase (Crisis & Revolution)

• Over time, anomalies begin to appear—things the current paradigm can’t explain. The model that once worked so well now starts failing to answer new questions.
• Imagine a car running smoothly until it hits a rough, unknown terrain. Now, you need a new kind of vehicle. 😊
• This leads to a crisis in the discipline—confusion, chaos, and uncertainty. Researchers feel disillusioned. The system begins to crack.
• Eventually, a new paradigm is proposed—one that explains these anomalies better. If it’s strong enough, it replaces the old one.
• This is the scientific revolution, and with this, a new paradigm phase begins—and the cycle repeats.

🔁 Summary Flowchart (for easy memory)

Pre-Paradigm → Professionalization → Paradigm Phase → Crisis (Dark Phase) → New Paradigm

Just like geological rock cycles, paradigms too evolve in a cyclic fashion.

🗺️ Application in Geography

Geography has seen multiple paradigm shifts:

• From Environmental Determinism → to Possibilism,
• From Regional Geography → to Quantitative Revolution,
• Then to Humanistic, Radical, and Behavioural Approaches.

Each shift came when the older framework couldn’t explain the evolving complexity of human-environment interactions.

🎓 Final Thought

Kuhn’s idea reminds us that no theory is permanent.
Every scientific discipline—including geography—evolves through intellectual revolutions, driven by new questions and the courage to challenge old answers.

So, a geographer isn’t just a map-maker or a field observer.
He or she is a thinker, who must always ask:

“Are we still using the right lens, or is it time to change our glasses?”