Paradigm Shifts, What it is, Why it Matters

The issues or crises we face as a human collective are arguably rooted in outdated perspectives, beliefs, traditions, cultural narratives, and paradigms. We do what we do, we are where we are, because of the perspectives and beliefs we adopt from cultural narratives, traditions, and paradigms among other sources.

I am not saying that there isn’t immense value in our historical treasure trove of human wisdom. I am saying that evolution and change are constant, that growth and discovery lead to new paradigms and cultural narratives. We are not throwing the baby out with the bathwater, simply saying “hey, you think it might be a good idea to drain that tub, give it a good scrub, and fill it with fresh water?”

My use of the word “outdated,” might sound negative but it isn’t. It is an observation. My feelings towards the outdated are of gratitude, for the guidance, service, and development seen under their watch. There is no shame to be directed towards that which has served and can no longer in a beneficial capacity. (To clarify I am not talking about old, or elder, sentient beings. Outdated models, paradigms, narratives etc.)

If there were an element of negativity or shame to be directed, just play along for the sake of the example, it would be geared towards the people who want something new, who are displeased with the present but comfortably enact what has always been. Those that continue to live through old narratives and paradigms while demanding something they were not designed to provide are deluding themselves. Expecting a cherry seed to grow into an apple tree is ridiculous, no different than expecting old paradigms & narratives to deliver new results.

A challenging aspect of the analysis, realizing that a paradigm, perspective, or narrative can dutifully serve one period and become detrimental to another. We are faced with such a situation. What dutifully delivered us to this point in time has become detrimental.

“Problems cannot be solved with the same mindset that created them.” — Einstein

Humanity clings to its identity, we work hard to form an identity, we are judged for that identity. We are tribal beings who cling to their traditions, to their cultural narratives. Psychological studies show people are willing to deny their sense of truth to remain within the group. Opening up to new possibilities or objectively evaluating anything that pushes into the realm of human identity is psychologically challenging.

When we question our culture and society, we can’t help but feel as though we are questioning our self. If we question the validity or value of our culture and society, what is our value, our validity? The same feeling can well up when questioning the paradigms we hold as truth, especially when we consider they drive the formation of culture and society.

Through all these protective mechanisms, desires to keep life stable, consistent, and reliable; we still know that change is truly the only constant. We all know that change is guaranteed, we see it throughout recorded history, we see it in our lives, still, we cling to the idea, the notion, that tomorrow can be seen through the memory of yesterday. After all, how else are we able to construct a sense of what is, other than using what we know?

It’s true, yesterday is statistically a good reference for tomorrow. Its value seems to depend on what we are attempting to evaluate and predict. When culture and society are heading in a direction we would consider out of alignment, it isn’t useful to copy yesterday. The change we desire to bring about, an alignment adjustment, does use yesterday for data points, analysis, and contemplation.

Before we jump into defining a paradigm I wanted to mention that cultural narratives and paradigms function in very similar ways. Cultural narratives play a big role in the evolution many of us wish to see. You can find my article on cultural narratives here.

My simplified attempt to define a paradigm, “a collection of assumptions, theories, and beliefs that construct a framework to view life through. A paradigm offers solutions to questions, it directs and guides by providing the necessary information.”

Paradigms could also be compared to an operating system for a computer, it provides the information, the framework, to function within. The invention of the computer and its operating system changed humanity, a new paradigm was born. We reconfigured aspects of how we work, increasing capacity and efficiency. Scientific community gained a powerful tool for measuring and analyzing. Human culture found new ways to connect and share.

The computer and its operating system generated an influx of new information. An increase in knowledge stimulates new questions, some of those questions can no longer be answered by the paradigm that generated them. Some questions challenge the paradigm, exposing weak points of explanation. The build-up of unanswerable anomalies or questions leads to a paradigm shift.

Paradigm Shift

We might as well jump into the graphic, probably the easiest way to digest a paradigm shift. The concept is fairly straightforward, might take a few rounds to let it sink in.

1) Established Paradigm — Scientifically based model(s) of understanding offering predictable and reliable solutions to current problems.

2) Model Drift — An accumulation of anomalies begins to occur, they can not be resolved by the current model(s).

3) Model Crisis — The accumulation of anomalies & unresolved problems hits critical mass and the paradigm is deemed insufficient, unreliable.

4) Model Revolution — The community begins to generate novel ideas and potential proposals for a new paradigm, substantially different from the previous.

5) Paradigm Shift — Newly proposed model(s) map closer to reality than previous, establishing a new normal or paradigm shift.

Pretty straightforward, isn’t it?

Paradigm Shift, Why it Matters

There is a prevalent attitude that we can keep doing the same thing but do it better. We can continue to carry on with our old ways but tighten things up a bit, you know, go sustainable, organic, fair trade, and recycle.

Paradigm shifts are our focus here, so we won’t go down the rabbit hole I just dipped my toes in. So we are on the same page, I didn’t say there isn’t benefit to the aforementioned trends. I am saying that green-washing an outdated system isn’t sustainable, fair trade, organic, oddly enough, it is recycled. I am saying that we have a build-up of anomalies, problems, questions, and crises that our current paradigm can not, and will not, answer.

Before we list a few broad category titles addressing these unanswerable issues, I want to say this, there is an abundance of good people who want positive change. These good people are incredibly busy making their lives happen, which means, they typically don’t have the time to contemplate and identify a paradigm that has never existed. What they have is an awareness of how we do things and ideas about how we could make those actions kinder. Contemplation will inevitably lead to the conclusion that the following issues will not be addressed but our current paradigm and cultural narratives.

• Climate change
• Finite resource management
• Protecting environmental diversity
• Geopolitical tensions
• Nuclear catastrophe
• Social inequities
• Financial system
• Education system
• Individual health statistics

A paradigm shift matters because an opportunity exists, an opportunity to establish a paradigm that directly addresses and answers these questions, problems, issues, or crises.

As hard as it may be to believe that is possible, it is. The hard part isn’t that believing it is possible, it is accepting the change required of each of us to fulfill it. We have been tooled within the current paradigm, retooling isn’t easy.

This article will not be addressing the potential components of a new paradigm and cultural narrative. Organized Consciousness is focused on putting the primary design components of a new paradigm and global cultural narrative into a comprehensive and applicable format.

Ultimately, the goal will be to have the first nucleus of inter-dependent individuals demonstrating the design principles.

Look around at the global society, look at what humanity has achieved. Our capabilities are stunning.

Within your own life, how often have you been faced with a project or challenge that seemed impossible? How often did you jump in, power through, and ended up being amazed at how it all came together?

How often have you left a situation like that and gave yourself a pep talk, “you need to remember that we don’t have the answers in the beginning, we don’t know how it will happen, but we do know by engaging and persisting we find our way!”

“The present convergence of crises — in money, energy, education, health, water, soil, climate, politics, the environment, and more — is a birth crisis, expelling us from the old world into a new.” ― Charles Eisenstein