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Paul Feyerabend (1924-1994) Major Works MLA Citations
Feyerabend, Paul. Against Method. London: Verso, 1993. Print.
Feyerabend, Paul. Science in a Free Society. , 1978. Print.
Feyerabend, Paul. Farewell to Reason. London: Verso, 1987. Print. -
Paul Feyerabend (1924-1994) Against Method
This book goes against the rigid models of the scientific method and suggests that scientists should use methods that have historical success or create their own. It suggests that out of all the successful developments, there is not one model that repeatedly prospered. His “anything goes” attitude agitated philosophers and made them fear chaos would ensue from him advocating limitless methods. The fear delighted him and he named his description of science, “Epistemological Anarchism.” -
Paul Feyerabend (1924-1994) Realism, Rationalism, and Scientific Method: Problems of Empiricism
This book focuses on 3 ideas: criticism, proliferation, and reality. The first theme is confirmation and induction. He explains that justified beliefs in a theory may be wrong if an “alternate incompatible theory" is not compared. This implies that contending methods have value. He also explains that research on the most confirmed theories should not be the only focus due to possibility of being false; he highlights incommensurability of words to support his belief. -
Paul Feyerabend (1924-1994) Farewell to Reason
Feyerabend uses his introduction to clarify that he was giving rationalists every reason why they should be relativists. He references Galileo, Einstein, and Aristotle as he defends relativism and attempts to show why it is moral and reasonable. He defends the typical dispute against relativists that their view does not allow for a rival case because one’s cultural belief is considered correct. He ends the book by questioning his fate and reciting his final quote. “Farewell to Reason.” -
Paul Feyerabend (1924-1994) The Tyranny of Science
Feyerabend’s lectures about Greek tragedies, titled Conflict and Harmony but changed. The lectures are presented to avoid systematic presence. He spent his later years reassessing the value of non-scientific practices in other cultures. His reassessment led to a radical pluralism "that saw as much potential merit in astrology, witchcraft, voodoo, and alternative medicines as in conventional science.” His late works defend diversity but don't have an option for rejection of ideas. -
Paul Feyerabend (1924-1994) Feyerabend & Kuhn
This is a short video that talks about how Feyerabend came to believe that there is no fixed or sound method that applies to all of science. [5]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiNm5Ec-GuE