CiteSpace analysis tool has become a new method favorite in journalism and communication researchers. By distinguishing and analyzing the philosophical ideas and main functions of CiteSpace, as well as combining the original intention when it was introduced and current situation when it is applied, this article points out that the vision promised by CiteSpace developers misunderstood Kuhn’s theory so that its core technology does not suffce to support. However, CiteSpace tool may help researchers to explore discipline anomalies by unthinking that may open up new growth points in communication research.