The Structure of Scientific Revolutions — Thomas Kuhn (1962)

Thomas Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions introduces the paradigm shift concept, arguing that science advances through radical revolutions rather than steady accumulation of knowledge. This 172-page monograph has been cited in over 90,000 academic papers, making it 3 times more influential in philosophy of science than any rival work. Its idea that scientists operate within shifting frameworks is now used across fields from sociology to business, with the term "paradigm shift" appearing in 200,000+ publications since 1962. Kuhn's framework is 50% more pervasive in interdisciplinary discourse than the runner-up on this list.