Rationability, serendipity, and the robinson crusoe fallacy. Paul karl feyerabend january, 1924 february 11, 1994 was an austrianborn philosopher of science best known for his work as a profe. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Ian hacking is emeritus professor of philosophy at the university of toronto. New left books, 1975, which he sometimes conceived of as a letter to lakatos to whom the book is dedicated.
Paul feyerabend was professor of philosophy at uc berkeley, and professor of. Feyerabrend argues that intellectual progress relies on the creativity of the scientist, against the authority of. Paul feyerabends globally acclaimed work, which sparked and continues to stimulate fierce. Modern science arose from global objections against earlier views and rationalism itself, the idea that there are general rules and standards for conducting our affairs, affairs of knowledge included, arose from global objections to common sense. Feyerabend became famous for his purportedly anarchistic view of science and his rejection. Hacking reflects on both feyerabends life and personality as well as the broader significance of the book for current discussions. A new scientist a devastating attack on the claims of philosophy to legislate for scientific practice. Most of his philosophical ideas are set forth in this book, and its analytical index, which functions as a table of contents at the opening of the book, is wonderfully.
In the context of this work, the term anarchy refers to epistemological anarchy. Since it was first published in 1975, against method has followed poppers the logic of scientific discovery and kuhns the structure of scientific revolutions into becoming a classic text in the debate about scientific methodology and scientific reasoning. Great scientists are methodological opportunists who use any moves that come to hand, even if they thereby violate canons of empiricist methodology. Books philosophy of nature by paul feyerabend massimo pigliucci says the bad boy of philosophy of science has done it again, posthumously i must admit that it took me some time to come around to seeing that paul feyerabend 19241994 actually had something interesting, even important, to say about science and philosophy. First published by new left books, 1975 revised edition published by verso 1988 third edition. Feyerabend is against all method and for as much and as. There have been dramatic political, social and ecological changes. Analytical index being a sketch of the main argument and the. Since it was first published in 1975, against method has followed poppers. Paul feyerabend lived at various times in austria, the uk, the united states, new zealand, italy, germany, and finally in switzerland. Toward a historical metamethod for assessing normative methodologies. Outline of an anarchistic theory of knowledge is a 1975 book about the philosophy of science by paul feyerabend, in which the author argues. This is the 1988 edition of his first book originally published in 1975. Feyerabend argues that scientific advances can only be.
His books include philosophical papers, farewell to reason, and against method. Against method is paul feyerabends profound, brilliant treatise on the. Against method by feyerabend paul and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Feyerabend denies method supremacy over contextual and meaning rich subjective thinking, and marshals the facts of history to establish the lack of any single method or welldefined body such as science in the growth of human knowledge. Paul feyerabend against method, three dialogues on. In against method, feyerabend looks at the history of science and finds that there is no fixed scientific methodology and the only methodology that can encompass the rich history is.
Paul feyerabend was professor of philosophy at uc berkeley, and professor of the philosophy of science at the federal institute of technology at zurich. Feyerabend realism, rationalism and scientific method volume 1 philosophical papers philosophical papers, vol 1 v. Feyerabend and grover maxwell mind, matter, and method essays in philosophy and science in honor of herbert feigl. He argues that the only feasible explanations of scientific successes are historical explanations, and that anarchism must now replace rationalism in the theory of knowledge. His major works include against method published in 1975, science in a free society published in 1978 and farewell to reason published in 1987.
Buy against method by paul feyerabend online at alibris. Appearance of feyerabends first book, against method, setting out epistemological anarchism, whose main thesis was that there is no such thing as the scientific method. He is the author of historical ontology, scientific revolutions, and. Possibly feyerabends best known book, against method is basically an attack on the idea that science has a single, monolithic method, one which has stood the test of time and produced the advances the advance of science is a subsidiary target leading to the science we know today. Beyond popper and kuhn to an anarchist philosophy of science. Freedom has increased but it has brought hunger, insecurity, nationalistic tensions, wars and straightforward murder. Paul feyerabends globally acclaimed work, which sparked and continues to stimulate fierce debate, examines the deficiencies of many widespread ideas about scientific progress and the nature of knowledge. Paul feyerabend stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. After military service during world war ii and further study at the university of london, he returned to vienna as a lecturer at the university. Against method has 5 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Naturalized philosophy of science with a plurality of methods. Against method book by paul feyerabend half price books. Paul karl feyerabends most popular book is against method.
Against method by feyerabend paul, first edition abebooks. World leaders have met to deal with the deterioration of our. Many things have happened since i first published against method. Outline of an anarchistic theory of knowledge, and killing time. New scientist since it was first published in 1975, against method has followed poppers the logic of scientific discovery and kuhns the structure of scientific revolutions into becoming a classic text in the debate about scientific methodology and scientific reasoning. His major works include against method published in 1975, science in a free society published in 1978 and farewell to reason a collection of papers published in 1987. See all books authored by paul karl feyerabend, including against method. Many things have happened since i first published against method am for short. A more accurate description, however, is the one given in. The mere fact that it exists, is admired, has results is not sufficient for making it a measure of excellence. Paul karl feyerabend january, 1924 february 11, 1994 was an austrianborn philosopher of science who lived in england, the united states, new zealand, italy, and finally switzerland. He illustrates this stance on the dust jacket of one of his books, against method 1975, by. In against method, paul feyerabend argues, science must be protected from ideologies.
Paul karl feyerabend has 49 books on goodreads with 928 ratings. Books by paul karl feyerabend author of against method. Since it was first published in 1975, against method has followed poppers the logic of. Paul feyerabend modern philosophy of science has paid great attention to the understanding of scientific practice, in contrast to concentration on scientific method. His other books include philosophical papers and farewell to reason. Tomas petricek on paul feyerabends the against method. Feyerabend became famous for his purportedly anarchistic view of science and his rejection of the existence of universal methodological rules. Paul feyerabends against method marxists internet archive. Outline of an anarchistic theory of knowledge by paul feyerabend and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Paul karl feyerabend books list of books by author paul. Feyerabend argues that scientific advances can only be understood in a historical context.
Outline of an anarchistic theory of knowledge is a 1975 book about the philosophy of science by paul feyerabend, in which the author argues that science is an anarchic enterprise, not a nomic customary one. Buy against method book online at low prices in india. Paul feyerabend is one of the most pioneering of the contemporary pragmatist philosophers of science. Since it was first published in 1975, against method has followed poppers the. Paul feyerabend didnt appreciate the criticism of against method so he replied with science in a free society as a rebuttal to everyone who disagreed with him.