Paul Feyerabend - Birth:1924 - Death:1994 Modern philosopher who was a falsificationist and challenged/critiqued other philosophers. Known for resisting scientific method and pushed free thought of discovery.
By Larry_Thames
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Joins World War II - German Army
Paul Feyerbend was drafted into the German army as an Arbeitsdienst, or Nazi work service. Originally trying to stay in Germany to avoid war, but grew tired of cleaning barracks. Avoiding war decided to go officer school in Yugoslavia. Receiving Iron Cross medal leading troops Russian village. Works Cited:
Preston, John. “Paul Feyerabend.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 24 Aug. 2020, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feyerabend/. Accessed 9 October 2022. -
Post War Recovery
Feyerabend took a bullet into his spine during World War II fighting for the Germans that left him impotent until his death. Apparently he had many relationships and was very frivolous in his encounters despite medical condition. Received fellowship to sing as Musikhochschule in Weimar. Work Cited:
Preston, John. “Paul Feyerabend.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 24 Aug. 2020, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feyerabend/. Accessed 9 October 2022. -
Meets Karl Popper First Time
Paul Feyerabend meets famous philosopher Karl Popper for first time at Austrian College of Society in Alpbach. Possibly when he became falsificationist as he admired Poppers disrespectful attitude towards other philosophers and the way he translated things into simple terms for listeners to grasp. Work Cited:
Preston, John. “Paul Feyerabend.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 24 Aug. 2020, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feyerabend/. Accessed 9 October 2022. -
Lectures - London School of Economics
Paul Feyerabend lectures London School of Economics where he criticizes the work of Karl Popper basically throwing out the scientific method. He went onto state that science ruled by laws limits science and to treat such existing laws as a rule of thumb. He also admits how he was a falsificationist. Preston, John. “Paul Feyerabend.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 24 Aug. 2020, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feyerabend/. Accessed 9 October 2022. -
Publishes Book - "Against Method"
Paul Feyerabend publishing book called "Against Method" where he goes onto rationalize his perspective of freedom of science. He goes onto outline why he believes the scientific method to be an cage where free thought of science is limited. As he believes that science requires the violation of rules in order to achieve discovery calling the scientific method out as blocking truth. -
Publishes Book "Science in a Free Society"
Within his book he outlines how the scientific method does not allow for enough freedom to explore science as true science is discovered by breaking laws and pushing theories. He also went on to criticize many philosophers throughout history. Without freedom he says that true scientific truth cannot be discovered thinking from the structured perspective students are taught in school.- Larry T.