1 Kuhn believed understanding the role of paradigms was key to understanding how science advances. Kuhn's work was in itself tradition-shattering and continues to be influential in the study of scientific processes today. Others have noted its relevance for the social sciences, business, the professions and other fields. Today the CPA profession, through its ground-breaking CPA Vision Process, is examining some of the reasons why recognizing paradigms and knowing when it is time to change them is so important to the future of the CPA profession. Paradigms and the Process of Change Changes in paradigms are called paradigm shifts, and shifts strong enough to attract a significant group of adherents lead to basic and revolutionary change.
History provides many examples of paradigm shifts.
In science, Galileo's 17 th century invention of a telescope for observation in the field of astronomy, and his discovery of the laws of falling bodies and the motions of projectiles, were paradigm shifts. His work initiated a scientific revolution and underlay the later discovery of the laws of gravity by Sir Isaac Newton, in itself another paradigm shift. Yet, Galileo's work was not initially accepted or recognized as a paradigm shift by philosophers and academics of his time. His discoveries contradicted Ptolemaic astronomy and Aristotle's theories about the nature of heavenly bodies. In our own time, paradigm shifts seem to have become more the norm than the exception.