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Revolution Versus Evolution: The Pattern of Conceptual Change in Science

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Abstract

Scientific revolution is a widely known concept. But does revolution really occur in science? Change through revolution means that present thinking does not retain anything from the past, because everything is thrown away due to the revolution. Does this pattern of change really correspond to the history of science? There is another pattern which is called evolution. This writing will show that process of evolution rather than revolution presents the real situation of scientific change. According to this concept, science grows as an organic species grows in certain environment. An organism is different from its every former stage, yet it remains the same organism throughout its life. In the same way, we will find both change and continuity in scientific growth.

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Correspondence to Md. Abdul Mannan.

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Mannan, M.A. Revolution Versus Evolution: The Pattern of Conceptual Change in Science. J. Indian Counc. Philos. Res. 37, 175–189 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40961-020-00203-9

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