Please don't use the word "paradigm"

Unless you explain what you are explicitly referring to:

• A universally recognised scientific achievement
• A myth
• A ‘philosophy’ or constellation of questions
• A text-book
• A whole tradition, and in some sense a model
• An analogy
• A successful metaphysical speculation
• An accepted device in common law
• A source of conceptual and instrumental tools
• A standard illustration
• A type of instrumentation
• An anomalous pack of cards
• A machine-tool factory
• A Gestalt figure
• A set of political institutions
• A ‘standard’ applied to quasi-metaphysics
• An organising principle which can govern perception itself
• a general epistemological view point
• A new way of seeing
• Something which defines a broad sweep of reality

Here is a link to Khun's "Second thoughts on paradigms" (rtf)

Paradigm is an exemplar, a new idea around which communities emerge

Paradigm is also the entire constellation of beliefs, norms, criteria shared by a community

It is a very powerful idea, but sadly it's been oversued and misused. So, please be aware of its meaning when you use (and read) it.

.