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Paul Feyerabend was born in Vienna, Austria.
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Drafted into German Army, Pioneer Corps
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Shot during Russian retreat, damaged spinal nerves leaving him temporarily partially paralyzed
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Attended the University of Vienna, Theoretical Physics. At this time, he considered himself a Positivist
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Received Doctorate in philosophy with the thesis subject of “protocol sentences”, sentences that compromise foundations of scientific knowledge -
Moved to England to study under Ludwig Wittgenstein but Wittgenstein died before his arrival. He then chose Karl Popper to be his supervisor at the London School of Economics
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Returned to Vienna despite Popper’s attempt to extend his scholarship and offer to become his research assistant.
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Summarized Wittgenstein’s Philosophical Investigations, which was accepted and published in The Philosophical Review.
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Published “An Attempt at a Realistic Interpretation of Experience” where he spoke against positivist views and embraced realism -
Took on a permanent position at the University of California, Berkeley
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Published “Science Without Experience” in which he argued that experience is not necessary in the development of scientific theories.
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Published “Against Method” in which he argued that there is no all-encompassing required methodology to scientific inquiry. Epistemological Anarchy! https://youtu.be/oovqaJSOVLc -
Published “Science In A Free Society”, a portion of the book was a compilation of responses to the negative criticism of “Against Method” he titled, “Conversations With Illiterates”. Additionally, this work was one that Feyerabend greatly regretted writing.
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Published “Farewell To Reason” which was a compilation of articles in which he expressed that relativism is the solution to conflicts of belief and ways of life.
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Retired for the University of California, Berkeley
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Hospitalized with an inoperable brain tumor
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He died, after complications with a brain tumor, in Genolier, Switzerland