It's an interesting proposition. There is certainly a history of scientific paradigm shifts, although I don't think it's very popular among historians. Conside

It's an interesting proposition. There is certainly a history of scientific paradigm shifts, although I don't think it's very popular among historians. Consider also the printing press. Invented much earlier, but something which built up momentum as it was improved and paper was made cheaper. Perhaps the improved ability to disseminate information made the industrial revolution inevitable?