The Newtonian paradigm, also called the clockwork universe, is the scientific paradigm that supports modern science being characterized by its materialistic and atomistic vision of isolated inert objects(matter) that interact in a linear cause and effect fashion, giving a vision of the universe that is analogs to a big machine, or clock which is both orderly, knowable and predictable. The Newtonian clockwork universe receives its name because within this paradigm the universe is seen to be compared to a big mechanical clock. It continues ticking along like a perfect machine with its gears governed by the laws of physics, making every aspect of the machine perfectly orderly and predictable. Within this paradigm, we can understand and know this whole machine of the universe by understanding all the parts and the linear interactions between these parts. The whole clock is clearly nothing more than the sum of its parts and thus, to understand it we can use the process of inquiry called reductionism.
