The right way to be a scientific contrarian

"There's the slow, incremental change that represents most scientific advances: where the existing scientific foundation gets built upon in a small but meaningful way. Typically, we perform experiments or observations, acquire new data, better determine key parameters about whatever it is we're investigating, but in a way that doesn't invalidate our revolutionize our prior understanding."

"These shifts couldn't have happened if scientists weren't willing to challenge accepted wisdom, and to imagine new foundations beyond the limits of our current ones. Very clearly, there is a 'right way' to be a scientific contrarian, otherwise such revolutions would never have been possible within a scientific framework."

"Examples include: Kepler's development of a heliocentric solar system with elliptical planetary orbits, the theory of continental drift and plate tectonics for describing Earth's crust, Darwin's theory of evolution, guided by the mechanism of natural selection and random mutations, and Einstein's overthrow of Newtonian gravity, replacing it with General Relativity."

Scientific progress follows two distinct pathways. Incremental advancement builds upon existing foundations through experiments and observations that refine parameters without invalidating prior understanding. Revolutionary advancement, conversely, introduces discoveries or theoretical frameworks that fundamentally overturn established scientific foundations, requiring complete reconceptualization of how phenomena work. Historical examples include Kepler's heliocentric model with elliptical orbits, plate tectonics theory, Darwin's evolution through natural selection, and Einstein's General Relativity replacing Newtonian gravity. These revolutionary shifts represent profound transformations in understanding the natural world. Such paradigm shifts require scientists willing to challenge accepted wisdom and imagine new foundations beyond current limits. Successful scientific revolutions depend on key motivators and ideas robust enough to explain phenomena the prior theory could not while reproducing its successful predictions.

Read at Big Think