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Building the Tower of Babel: Communities of Practice and Paradigmatic Pluralism in Organization Studies

University of Washington

Nelson Phillips

McGill University

In this paper, we argue that the work of Thomas Kuhn lends itself to two conflicting interpretations of the nature of scientific work, and that these have very different implications for debates on paradigmatic pluralism within organization studies. We begin by framing two ideal typical interpretations (a reductionist interpretation and an irreductionist interpretation) of the allegory of the Tower of Babel. We then explore in more depth the irreductionist interpretation of Kuhn that has driven research in the `social studies of science' over the last two decades. In line with irreductionist studies, we examine the concept of boundaries between scientific fields and between science and society and argue for a more fluid and dynamic conception than has been common in previous work. We suggest revisions of more traditional conceptions of paradigm, incommensurability, and mature and immature science. We end by briefly discussing these issues in the context of the debates on paradigmatic pluralism in organization theory and strategic management.

Organization, Vol. 5, No. 2, 191-215 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/135050849852003


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