Against Method: Outline of an Anarchistic Theory of Knowledge

✍ Scribed by Paul Feyerabend

• Publisher: Verso
• Year: 1993
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 289
• Edition: 3
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Modern philosophy of science has paid great attention to the understanding of scientific 'practice', in contrast to concentration on scientific 'method'. Paul Feyerabend's acclaimed work, which has contributed greatly to this new emphasis, shows the deficiencies of some widespread ideas about the nature of knowledge. He argues that the only feasible explanations of scientific successes are historical explanations, and that anarchism must now replace rationalism in the theory of knowledge. The third edition of this classic text contains a new preface and additional reflections at various points in which the author takes account both of recent debates on science and on the impact of scientific products and practices on the human community. While disavowing populism or relativism, Feyerabend continues to insist that the voice of the inexpert must be heard. Thus many environmental perils were first identified by non-experts against prevailing assumptions in the scientific community. Feyerabend's challenging reassessment of scientific claims and understandings are as pungent and timely as ever.

✦ Table of Contents

Against Method, 3rd.
......Page 1
Contents
......Page 2
Preface
......Page 3
Preface to the Third Edition
......Page 5
Introduction to the Chinese Edition
......Page 11
Analytical Index
......Page 15
Introduction
......Page 19
One
......Page 24
Two
......Page 30
Three
......Page 34
Four
......Page 43
Five
......Page 49
Six
......Page 64
Seven
......Page 75
Eight
......Page 87
Nine
......Page 96
Ten
......Page 113
Eleven
......Page 116
Twelve
......Page 133
Thirteen
......Page 135
Fourteen......Page 145
Fifteen
......Page 157
Appendix 1
......Page 169
Sixteen
......Page 174
Appendix 2
......Page 219
Seventeen
......Page 224
Eighteen
......Page 240
Nineteen
......Page 248
Twenty
......Page 262
Postscript on Relativism
......Page 278
Index
......Page 283