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Work #432 · Mid

Against Method

Paul Feyerabend
1975 (1st edn); 1988 (2nd); 1993 (3rd) · English
Anarchist philosophy of science · Anglo-Austrian post-positivist philosophy of science

Feyerabend's 1975 anarchist philosophy of science — "anything goes"

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Against Method (Mid)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency None
Observer · Moral Authority Constructed
Observer · Theological Method —
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

⧖

Time

Against Method

The historical time of actual scientific practice.

✦

Space

Against Method

The pluralist space of scientific practices.

◉

Matter

Against Method

The material world variously theorized.

◎

Observer

Against Method

The anarchist-historicist philosopher of science.

⚡

Energy

Against Method

Energies of methodological pluralism.

⧉

Information

Against Method

Anarchist methodological framework.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Against Method

Feyerabend's anarchism in continuing controversy with rationalist and realist philosophies of science.