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The Birth of Paul Feyerabend
Paul K. Feyerabend is born in Vienna.
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Lecturer of philosophy at University of Bristol
As an academic lecturer in philosophy of science, Feyerabend is recruited by the University of Bristol. Here he matches up with David Bohm, a physics lecturer removing him away from Karl Popper's influence. In 1956, Feyerabend released his study of the relationship between theory and experience, which asserts that there is no separate "observation language". -
An Attempt at a Realistic Interpretation of Experience
This was one of the early publications to critically analyze the views of philosophers of science such as Rudolph Carnap, Feigl, Nagel, and Hempel by studying the relationship between observation and theory. This publication provides evidence in favor of a realist scientific approach, while "Thesis I" becomes a second publication which reverts positivism and supports relativism. -
Pragmatic Theory of Observation
In the "Pragmatic Theory of Observation," Feyerabend discusses how observation-sentences are vital to the production and disavowal of theories. -
Explanation, Reduction, and Empiricism
The first notable work by Feyerabend signals his status as a controversial figure in the philosophy of science. As a critic of empiricism, the dominant philosophy of his time, and as an advocate of incommensurability, he solidified a reputation as a rebel within the community. -
Tolerant and Disinfected Empricism
Feyerabend releases publications such as Realism and Instrumentalism, the Problems of Empiricism, and Reply to Criticism. These publications were an attempt to "disinfect" empiricism and make it more tolerable. The result brought more distance between his relationship with Karl Popper -
Against Method
What is arguable Feyerabend's most notable work. This established the theory that "the scientific method" does not exist, giving rise to the phrase "anything goes" and the term epistemological anarchism. He believed that, despite its beginnings as a liberating movement, science had become rigid and rule-based, having oppressive characteristics, leaving science indistinguishable from religion, mythology, and magic. -
Against method Video
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Contributions To The Philosophy of Science
One of his most important contributions was declaring that there is no such thing as a universal scientific method. Feyerabend later developed an anarchistic view of the philosophy of science, arguing that society must be protected from being overly influenced by scientific ideologies. This concept would go on to have an enormous impact in the field of Science and Technology. -
Science in a Free Society
This was a series of responses to Against Method. Feyerabend had seen his work devaluing science's privileged position within culture, which led to depression and later works criticizing science's place in Western society. Separation of science and state is also advocated, like the separation of church and state. -
Farwell to Reason
Feyerabend brings together some of his earlier writings in this book, putting relativism front and center while challenging Western scientific rationalism of "development" and "progress." -
The death of Feyerabend
Feyerabend dies of an inoperable brain tumor. -
citiation
Preston, John. “Paul Feyerabend.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 24 Aug. 2020, plato.stanford.edu/entries/feyerabend/. “Paul Feyerabend.” Paul Feyerabend - New World Encyclopedia, www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Paul_Feyerabend. Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/biography/Paul-Karl-Feyerabend.