Paradigm inertia is the resistance to changing paradigms. There are many reasons paradigms are hard to change, some are scientific, but the most powerful reasons are personal, emotional, and thoroughly unscientific.
The psychological and economic motives of people whose reputations and incomes depend on their association with a paradigm are at cross purpose with scientifically learning to evaluate a challenge to their paradigm.
For more on “Unscientific Learning” check out Science Historian, William Glen’s full discussion of his study of paradigm inertia in 600 geologists: http://rb.gy/kuygu
See also: Oppenheimer: Paradigm Inertia in Physics
See also: PARADIGM INERTIA IN READING SCIENCE: http://rb.gy/bjhx8
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