According to Kuhn, what instigates a 'Scientific Revolution'?

The concept of a 'Scientific Revolution' as explained by Thomas Kuhn is fundamentally tied to the idea of a paradigm shift. Kuhn proposed that science operates within established frameworks or paradigms, which consist of accepted theories, methods, and standards within a scientific community. Over time, as anomalies or inconsistencies arise that cannot be resolved within the existing paradigm, the scientific community reaches a tipping point, leading to the realization that a new framework is necessary to make sense of the emerging evidence.

This shift is not merely an addition of knowledge through incremental discoveries, but rather a transformation of the foundational assumptions that define the scientific discipline. When a new paradigm emerges, it allows scientists to interpret observations and data in fundamentally different ways, thus fostering substantial advancements and changes in the field. This marks the transition from one way of thinking to another, fundamentally reshaping the direction of scientific inquiry and understanding.

Incremental discoveries, increased funding, and changes in public opinion may influence the scientific landscape but do not in themselves instigate a scientific revolution as described by Kuhn. The crux of a scientific revolution lies in the paradigm shift—this is what catalyzes profound changes in scientific thought and practice.