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Who is Paul Feyerabend?
Dubbed the "Worst Enemy of Science" Feyerabend is a fascinating individual who had a profound influence on the philosophy of science in the later 20th century (2, 4). Initially a staunch empiricist he would come to discard empiricism (1). A charismatic individual, he worked with Wittgenstein, Popper, and the Vienna Circle (1). Eventually he moved away from Germany to the US, joining the Berkeley faculty. At the end of his life he moved to Switzerland, continuing to write until his death (1). -
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Stints in Theater and Opera
Both before and after the war Feyerabend was active in the thespian culture of Germany and was trained in singing, specifically opera (4). This is something which would follow him through his life as one of his greatest pleasures (1). With this he was an engaging speaker and quite adept at rhetoric (4). -
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The Kraft Circle
Feyerabend was the student leader of the Kraft Circle, a group formed by Victor Kraft who was a previous member of the Vienna Circle and a positivist (1). -
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Time at Cambridge School of Economics
Originally intending to study under Wittgenstein, who died before Feyerabend's arrival, Feyerabend instead studied under Popper (1). Feyerabend was initially a supporter of Popper, but as his career progressed he came to disagree with the man's views (1). He attended lectures, reviewed the late Wittgenstein's works, and "presented his ideas on scientific change" (1). -
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Research Assistant for Pap
After refusing a position as a research assistant for Popper in England, Feyerabend accepted one with Arthur Pap in Vienna. During this time he wrote, met other important figures, and studied Wittgenstein (1). He met Herbert Feigl during this time, helping dispel doubts Feyerabend had about realism (1). -
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Lecturer at the University of Bristol
With some help from Joseph Agassi Feyerabend prepared lectures (1). Meeting Phillip Frank and David Bohm caused his views to shift significantly, moving away from Popper and closer to the anarchist view he would come to be remembered by (1). -
"On the quantum‐theory of measurement"
A culmination of Feyerabend's works on quantum mechanics beginning in 1954. They challenged the "Copenhagen Interpretation" and presented an argument which differed from Popper's (1). In it he also introduced the concept "that there is no separate and neutral “observation-language” or “everyday language”" (1). -
“An Attempt at a Realistic Interpretation of Experience”
A critical rebuke of "orthodox philosophy" in the states which rejected positivism in favor of realism (1). It attacked the view of positivists on scientific observation-language originating from experience, and instead argued that it instead originated from the theory first (1). -
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Post at UC Berkeley
Not really starting full time until 1960, Feyerabend first finished his work at the Minnesota Center for the Philosophy of Science in Minneapolis (1). During this time he lectured, wrote some of his most influential works, and progressed his views on the philosophy of science (1). Eventually his unorthodox teaching methods, which were unwelcomed by the college, however he stayed, quitting for a brief period in 1968 before returning (1). -
“Explanation, Reduction, and Empiricism”
One of his more famous works where he presented the idea of incommensurability (1). It follows much like Kuhn's definition, but how it is used is different, pushing the radical idea that all observations were hypothetical (1). -
“How to be a Good Empiricist”
One of several works published around this time which posed the argument for scientific realism based on methodoloty (1). -
“Science Without Experience”
An article in which Feyerabend argued that observation/experience was unnecessary to science for going through the process of constructing and validating a theory (1). -
"Against Method"
Feyerabend's most famous work. The following is his own thoughts on this famous thesis: Against Method. It was originally intended to be a joint work with Lakatos, but the man's death led to Feyerabend's individual efforts (1). It is credited as being the cause for him losing his reputation as a serious philosopher and gaining his reputation as an enemy of science (1). -
"Science in a Free Society"
This was a response to the many critical reviews that his work "Against Method" received (1). He claims most readers misunderstood his work and his playful rhetoric (1). However, he would come to regret this work to some degree (1). -
"Farewell to Reason"
This work was the culmination of Feyerabend's progress away from empiricism toward relativism (1). In it he claims that relativism is the "solution to the problems of conflicting beliefs and of conflicting ways of life" (1). -
Summary
With his catchphrase "Anything Goes" Feyerabend was a dynamic individual who impacted the philosophy of science through his radical views and strong, if not charismatic, character (self-describing as a "big mouth") (4). He strongly believed in the right of other belief systems to contest with science, and throughout his life questioned everything while celebrating all of it (1). -
"The Tyranny of Science"
Originally a set of five lectures delivered by Feyerabend, they were collected and published posthumously from his death (1). In them they promote the image of science as a disunified entity, rather than a coherent or complete unit (1). It attacked the idea of Western Imperialism and supported a science which was separate from state akin to the separation of church and state (1).