Summary and Epilogue

摘要

In any scientific discipline that deals with difficult-to-understand, seemingly inexact phenomena, there is a certain "status quo" that is accepted within the discipline. This status quo is a theory—or set of theories— that tries to explain those phenomena. Over time, a general pattern emerges that goes along the following way: Initially, the status quo is the generally accepted theory that is believed by most people within the discipline. This theory develops a certain "track record" for explaining the phenomena, but the theory eventually starts to fail. This happens because "exceptions to the rule" inevitably pop up, these exceptions slowly accumulate, and then they become so unwieldy that the theory breaks down. Then, "revolutionary" members of that discipline analyze these "exceptions" and apply them to construct a new paradigm. The new paradigm attempts to better explain the existing phenomena. Slowly, the original theory collapses.