Polymorphism is a special category of metamorphosis.    In Greco-Roman literature, it was the ability of divine beings to change their own form. A polymorphic god can change forms sequentially, or even appear in different forms to different people at the same time.Derived from Greek, the term polymorphy (πολύμορφος) could be literally translated as having (or comprising) several shapes or forms. Polymorphism is closely connected to shape shifting, which means that at any moment a person or deity can assume another form, stature, or age. Metamorphosis includes changes in materiality, for example, one’s body becoming soft or hard. How long the change of form lasts also differs.       Similarly, Switching back-and-forth between two interpretations of an image a “Gestalt” shift

In the strictest sense, Pieter Lalleman has defined that “Polymorphy is a

metamorphosis of such a kind that the person or deity can be seen differently

by different people at the same time

‘GESTALT SWITCH’ IS A PROCESS WHEREBY SOMEONE’S PERSPECTIVE CHANGES FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER…

You may experience this when looking at this picture. At first you see one image and then your eyes, your brain, recognize the second one and store it in your memory. Forever. The next time you look at this picture you will see both images. This not only applies to these pictures but to our life’s experience in general. We then have renewed our mind.

 The brain can switch from seeing the world from one way to a completely different way. 

We then have renewed our mind.

Whereas ‘Gestalt switch’ points to our individual experiences, once they occur on a larger scale, let’s say on the scale of nations and societies, cultures, and result in a change of behaviour, policies and the like, we tend to speak of a ‘paradigm shift’. A change in pattern of not only our individual behaviour but that of nations, organizations, societies and cultures. We then all have renewed our minds…

PARADIGM SHIFT: EXAMPLE FROM THE WORLD OF SCIENCE