Knowledge, Science and Relativism

This collection of Feyerabend's philosophical papers gathers together work originally published between 1960 and 1980.

P. K. Feyerabend (Author)

9780521057271, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 1 March 2008

268 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.56 kg

This third volume of Paul Feyerabend's philosophical papers, which gathers together work originally published between 1960 and 1980, offers a range of his characteristically exciting treatments of classic questions in the philosophy of science. It includes his previously untranslated paper 'The Problem of Theoretical Entities', and the important lecture 'Knowledge without Foundations', in which he develops the perspective on early philosophy and science put forward by Karl Popper. Other themes discussed include theoretical pluralism, the nature of scientific method, the relationship between theory and observation, the distinction between science and myth, and the opposition between 'rationalism' and relativism. Several papers from the 1970s detail his increasing preoccupation with the social status of science and with the decline (as he perceived it) in quality within the philosophy of science itself. The volume is completed by a substantial introduction and a comprehensive list of Feyerabend's works.

Introduction to Volume 3 John Preston
1. The problem of theoretical entities
2. Knowledge without foundations
3. How to be a good empiricist: a plea for tolerance in matters epistemological
4. Outline of a pluralistic theory of knowledge and action
5. Experts in a free society
6. Philosophy of science: a subject with a great past
7. On the limited validity of methodological rules
8. How to defend society against science
9. Let's make more movies
10. Rationalism, relativism and scientific method
11. Democracy, elitism and scientific method
12. Appendix.

Subject Areas: Philosophy of science [PDA], Social & political philosophy [HPS]