Pluralism and the 'problem of reality' in the later philosophy of Paul Feyerabend
Feyerabendâs later philosophy was a sustained defence of cultural and epistemic diversity. After Against Method (1975) Feyerabend argued that his rejection of methodological monism challenged the presumed unity and superiority of scientific knowledge and practices. His later philosophy was therefore dedicated to a reassessment of the merits of a wide range of ânon-scientificâ traditions present throughout non-Western indigenous cultures. Feyerabend drew upon the resources of anthropology and environmental and development studies to argue that the cognitive and practical merits of a variety of indigenous medical, environmental, and classificatory systems had been denied or disregarded. The consequence of these reassessments was epistemic pluralism. Western scientific and cultural practices represent many but by no means all of these and attempts to assert their cross-cultural value have resulted in enormous environmental, social, and intellectual destruction. Feyerabend here drew upon John Stuart Millâs claim that both human wellbeing and the growth of knowledge are best served by a diversity of forms of life and modes of inquiry. Such diversity is threatened by the cognitive and cultural authority
Kidd, Ian James
Pluralism and the 'problem of reality' in the later philosophy of Paul Feyerabend. Feyerabendâs later philosophy was a sustained defence of cultural and epistemic diversity. After Against Method (1975) Feyerabend argued that his rejection of methodological monism challenged the presumed unity and superiority of scientific knowledge and practices. His later philosophy was therefore dedicated to a reassessment of the merits of a wide range of ânon-scientificâ traditions present throughout non-Western indigenous cultures. Feyerabend drew upon the resources of anthropology and environmental and development studies to argue that the cognitive and practical merits of a variety of indigenous medical, environmental, and classificatory systems had been denied or disregarded. The consequence of these reassessments was epistemic pluralism. Western scientific and cultural practices represent many but by no means all of these and attempts to assert their cross-cultural value have resulted in enormous environmental, social, and intellectual destruction. Feyerabend here drew upon John Stuart Millâs claim that both human wellbeing and the growth of knowledge are best served by a diversity of forms of life and modes of inquiry. Such diversity is threatened by the cognitive and cultural authority
pluralism problem reality later_philosophy paul later_philosophy sustain defence cultural epistemic diversity method argue rejection methodological monism challenge presumed unity superiority scientific_knowledge practice later_philosophy therefore dedicate reassessment merit wide_range non scientific tradition present throughout non_western indigenous culture draw_upon resource anthropology environmental development study argue cognitive practical merit variety indigenous medical environmental classificatory_system deny consequence reassessment epistemic pluralism western scientific cultural_practice represent many mean attempt assert cross_cultural value result enormous environmental social_intellectual destruction draw_upon john_stuart_mill claim human wellbeing growth knowledge best serve diversity form_life mode inquiry diversity threaten cognitive cultural authority