Paradigmatic Orientations of Mind among Physicists

Abstract

A meta-theory was developed that brought together implicit premises or world views that constantly re-surface in human thought. It consists of four paradigmatic or root intellectual orientations, designated as type I, type II, type III and type IV respectively. The theory was found to be applicable across a wide range of thinkers, scholarly disciplines, and cultures. In the current paper the framework is presented in terms of its main components and dynamics. The aim of the paper is to apply the meta-philosophical framework in identifying unique but complementary intellectual predispositions or modalities of mind among physicists. For this purpose a brief sketch of some prominent figures in physics is provided, showing their different orientations of mind. David Bohm represents the type I (metaphysical or objectivist-empyrean) tendency; Albert Einstein, the quintessential type II (scientific or objectivist-empiricist) approach; Carl Sagan is primarily the type III (subjectivist-empiricist) figure; whilst Fritjof Capra is the type IV (reforming or subjectivist-empyrean) representative in this group.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p2110