Scientific paradigms have a tendency to rise fast and decline slowly. This asymmetry reflects the difficulty in developing a truly original idea, compared to the ease at which a concept can be eroded by numerous modifications. Here we formulate a model for the emergence and spread of ideas which deals with this asymmetry by constraining the ability of agents to return to already abandoned concepts. The model exhibits a fairly regular pattern of global paradigm shifts, where older paradigms are eroded and subsequently replaced by new ones. The model sets the theme for a new class of pattern formation models, where local dynamics breaks the detailed balance in a way that prevents old states from defending themselves against new nucleating or invading states. The model allows for frozen events in terms of the coexistence of multiple metastable states.
Bornholdt2011 - Emergence and Decline of Scientific Paradigms.pdf:Contact Processes/Bornholdt2011 - Emergence and Decline of Scientific Paradigms.pdf:PDF
%0 Journal Article
%1 Bornholdt2011
%A Bornholdt, S.
%A Jensen, M. H.
%A Sneppen, K.
%D 2011
%I American Physical Society
%J Phys. Rev. Lett.
%K consensus-formation lattice-models opinion-formation oscillations sznajd-model voter-model
%N 5
%P 058701
%R 10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.058701
%T Emergence and Decline of Scientific Paradigms
%V 106
%X Scientific paradigms have a tendency to rise fast and decline slowly. This asymmetry reflects the difficulty in developing a truly original idea, compared to the ease at which a concept can be eroded by numerous modifications. Here we formulate a model for the emergence and spread of ideas which deals with this asymmetry by constraining the ability of agents to return to already abandoned concepts. The model exhibits a fairly regular pattern of global paradigm shifts, where older paradigms are eroded and subsequently replaced by new ones. The model sets the theme for a new class of pattern formation models, where local dynamics breaks the detailed balance in a way that prevents old states from defending themselves against new nucleating or invading states. The model allows for frozen events in terms of the coexistence of multiple metastable states.
@article{Bornholdt2011,
abstract = {Scientific paradigms have a tendency to rise fast and decline slowly. This asymmetry reflects the difficulty in developing a truly original idea, compared to the ease at which a concept can be eroded by numerous modifications. Here we formulate a model for the emergence and spread of ideas which deals with this asymmetry by constraining the ability of agents to return to already abandoned concepts. The model exhibits a fairly regular pattern of global paradigm shifts, where older paradigms are eroded and subsequently replaced by new ones. The model sets the theme for a new class of pattern formation models, where local dynamics breaks the detailed balance in a way that prevents old states from defending themselves against new nucleating or invading states. The model allows for frozen events in terms of the coexistence of multiple metastable states.},
added-at = {2011-02-04T11:48:58.000+0100},
author = {Bornholdt, S. and Jensen, M. H. and Sneppen, K.},
biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2b5e57ff768b1b6a07ee0d086791b064a/rincedd},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.058701},
file = {Bornholdt2011 - Emergence and Decline of Scientific Paradigms.pdf:Contact Processes/Bornholdt2011 - Emergence and Decline of Scientific Paradigms.pdf:PDF},
groups = {public},
interhash = {00364bdffc1058e82a6618ea1931139d},
intrahash = {2e61d23d291723032dd3e293548d5968},
journal = {Phys. Rev. Lett.},
keywords = {consensus-formation lattice-models opinion-formation oscillations sznajd-model voter-model},
number = 5,
pages = 058701,
publisher = {American Physical Society},
timestamp = {2011-03-30T16:38:25.000+0200},
title = {Emergence and Decline of Scientific Paradigms},
username = {rincedd},
volume = 106,
year = 2011
}