Time for new paradigms

• Perpere Viñuales, Álvaro ^[1]
  1. [1] Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina

     Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina

     Argentina

     
• Localización: Cultura económica, ISSN-e 1852-5342, Vol. 42, Nº. 108, 2024 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Time for new paradigms), págs. 6-8
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
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• Resumen

  • A phrase, wrongly attributed to Albert Einstein, says that insanity is nothing more than expecting different results by always repeating the same procedure. Even though this reflection was not said by the German physicist, its lesson undeniably remains relevant, especially within the context of the social sciences. Indeed, a quick look at the history of science, and at the history of the social sciences in particular, allows us to recognize moments when prevailing paradigms were strongly questioned, both by facts and by theoretical critique. In those moments of crisis, when paradigms seemed no longer effective, the solution was none other than to review, improve, and eventually make substantial changes to the theoretical framework from which the issues at hand were being addressed. It was clear that if the approach was not changed, the expected results would not be achieved. One cannot expect different results if one does the same thing.