A paradigm shift in culture and thinking takes places when there is a sudden change in the way we look at the world around us. The build-up for a shift of this nature is slow but once it happens, it is practically instantaneous.
As an illustration, we had the classical example of Charles Darwin’s 1859 publication of the famous book Origin of Species, which caused a shift in thinking about mankind’s perspective of creation and evolution. This book escalated the debate between creationism and evolutionism.
An individual person can also experience a paradigm shift after passing through some traumatic experience (physical, mental, emotional or spiritual or all at the same time) that causes a change in his/her priorities in life. Organisations of every type also review their paradigms when drawing up management strategies in the light of a changing socio-economic environment.
The way we are (the study of Ontology) and the way we learn (the study of Epistemology) and the method by which we learn (the study of Methodology) are indeed a product of the changing culture in which we are brought up. Our thought processes and behaviour are indeed affected by sudden changes, knowingly or unknowingly.
In the beginning of the 16th century, we notice a paradigm shift as a result of the Renaissance movement. The centre of attention in every discipline suddenly became man, as a re-birth of Ancient Art and Philosophy took place bringing about new and challenging revolutionary ideas.
Thereafter, the Reformation and counter-Reformation also gave the world a new view of Christianity when biblical truths that had been suppressed during the Dark Ages suddenly came to light and many converted to Protestantism. Later on, during the 18th century, there was the force of the American and French revolutions and an era of other nationalistic revolutions bringing to the fore the ideals of liberty and equality through philosophers such as Adam Smith, Voltaire and Montesquieu. As a result, European nations were born in their own right (such as Germany and Italy) in their quest for unification and nationalistic freedom from foreign rule and domination.
At this moment in time, a paradigm shift comes from the constant bombardment of digital information and knowledge and the fast rate with which it comes. This is re-wiring and increasing the speed by which our brains process information. We think, obtain, process and produce information at the touch of a key and much information is user-generated, such as Wikipedia and YouTube.
The power of the internet and this Age of Information is causing the world to re-invent itself. This makes us question how the digital future will develop and how it will affect us in the light of instant, dramatic and radical conversions as the individual becomes a more digitally independent cyber citizen. What before was a private domain has become public scrutiny and cyber-ethics are completely ignored again and again.
In this context, we also see the ascent of the independent non-corporate online media bloggers that constantly shower us with their side of the story, which many times is just cheap and sensationalist propaganda full of lies or half-truths. This calls for a more intelligent, discerning and responsible reader who will be able to recognize what is garbage and what is not.
When Malta became a full member of the EU, (whether for bad or for worse), we experienced another shift in thinking as Malta became more influenced by other countries due to a greater degree of closeness and a more direct relationship with them. Malta, the island surrounded by sea with no borders touching it and ‘isolated’ from Continental Europe, suddenly saw a greater influx and influence of cultures, laws, directives and regulations and peoples from all corners of Europe visiting the island. Suddenly, our sovereignty and independence also became a sideshow and of secondary importance as we were invaded as never before in our history and ‘made to swallow’ all that was meted out to us.
Technology also helped Malta to make up for its geographical isolation, and the disadvantages of lack of proximity were greatly reduced as the world became a global village. Malta took full opportunity of this change and invested millions of euro in technology to add value to its economy and surpass the limits of its size and geographical location.
The world is also experiencing a power struggle between the large organisations controlling the economy and media and the individual internet users. The economy is getting more and more decentralised by peer to peer trading on the internet. Power control by governments is lessening as individuals are becoming more and more hands-on and individualistic in their dealings. This in itself creates desperate governments and elite organisations that seek to regain the control and domain over lost ground and activities into which the individual user has ventured.
Indeed, we are all prone and subject to sudden shifts as we see build-ups taking place around us that can lead to such dramatic changes. Currently, the world is obsessed about the events taking place in the Korean peninsula due to the threat of North Korea’s nuclear armaments programme and nuclear tests that this country conducts in the region. Some questions that beg a clear answer are: Is our nation prepared for a nuclear disaster? Do we have any nuclear proof shelters available and a stock of renewable food supplies to last the country during times of distress? And what are the Civil Defence capabilities when faced with such an extreme challenge?
Even the snap general election in Malta that will be held on 3 June has come on short notice and will perhaps be the briefest election campaign ever. This also reveals the changing scenario and dynamics of our local political scene.
The world needs to be prepared for any sudden changes that could come any moment and may find us unprepared.
Anthony Zarb Dimech