Abstract
Thomas Kuhn developed a theoretical system centered on the concept of “paradigm” to explain scientific revolutions. As this concept gained popularity, it has also influenced the Chinese literary theory studies. However, scholars have barely reflected on the legitimacy of applying this interdisciplinary concept. Among the many interdisciplinary interpreters of the paradigm theory, Edgar Morin and Giorgio Agamben are the most representative, each constructing a distinct framework of interpretation based on one aspect of the concept. There is a clear difference between Chinese and Western academia in terms of applying the concept of paradigm in literary and art studies. Scholars in China tend to focus more on paradigmatic studies of literary theory, while the Western scholars conducted paradigmatic studies on both literature per se as well as literary theory. Such distinction lies in the failure to address the legitimacy of applying paradigm to literary studies beforehand. However, from the perspective of the disciplinary history of literary studies, paradigmatic studies focused on literary theory align more closely with Kuhn's original logic in inventing this concept.
Keywords
paradigm, artistic revolution, aesthetic revolution, literary theory
First Page
137
Last Page
148
Recommended Citation
Li, Sanda. 2025. "A Common Measure: The Legitimacy of Applying the “Paradigm” Research Framework to Literary Theory." Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art 45, (6): pp.137-148. https://tsla.researchcommons.org/journal/vol45/iss6/14
