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Paul Feyerabend was born in Vienna, Austria.
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By the time Feyerabend graduated high school, Austria was reunified with Germany. He was drafted into the Arbeitsdienst and eventually volunteered for the officers' school. Preston, John. “Paul Feyerabend.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Edward N. Zalta, Fall 2020, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2020. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2020/entries/feyerabend/. -
Despite reports of Feyerabend being foolhardy in battle he recieved the Iron Cross for leading a group of men into an enemy occupied village and holding it. He was eventually promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Preston, John. “Paul Feyerabend.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Edward N. Zalta, Fall 2020, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2020. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2020/entries/feyerabend/. -
After the war, he returned to studying singing and stage-management. He also studied a variety of other theatre related topics. Singing remained one of his major interested for the rest of his life. Preston, John. “Paul Feyerabend.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Edward N. Zalta, Fall 2020, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2020. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2020/entries/feyerabend/. -
Feyerabend met Karl Popper at the first meeting of the international summer seminar of the Austrian College Society in Alpbach. Popper's work would be a major influence (both positive and negative) on Feyerabend. Preston, John. “Paul Feyerabend.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Edward N. Zalta, Fall 2020, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2020. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2020/entries/feyerabend/.
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His first academic post was at the University of Bristol, England lecturing on the philosophy of science. Preston, John. “Paul Feyerabend.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Edward N. Zalta, Fall 2020, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2020. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2020/entries/feyerabend/.
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He accepted a one year invitation to lecture at the University of California at Berkeley. At the end of his visit, he was offered a permanent job, however due to a grant from another school he was unable to accept until 1960. Preston, John. “Paul Feyerabend.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Edward N. Zalta, Fall 2020, Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, 2020. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2020/entries/feyerabend/.
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Feyerabend’s globally acclaimed book, argues that anarchism in science could replace rationalism in the theory of knowledge. The idea that creativity would do more to advance the sciences than a rigid, formulaic method. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85pzjUvBZSI Feyerabend, Paul, and Ian Hacking. Against Method. Verso Books, 2010, p. 336. -
Continuing his argument started in Against Method, he criticizes the importance of science and its reliance on the scientific method. Feyerabend, Paul. Science in a Free Society. Verso Books, 1978, p. 222. -
Paul Feyerabend died in Vaud, Switzerland to a brain tumor.
