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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.