I want to defend society and its inhabitants from all ideologies, science
included.”
-Paul Feyerabend
Q. What of those who think science and enlightenment are one and the
same, are they deceived?
A. Yes and No.
1. General answer: (p. 287-288)
· Ideologies that overthrow comprehensive systems of thought
are enlightening.
· Science was once such a system but needn’t remain such a system.
· Scientific facts and method are taught uncritically (p. 288 column 1), it has become as oppressive as the ideologies it once had to fight.
objection: the rigidity of science lies in the nature of things, once we’ve discovered the truth we’re bound to follow it.
Feyerabend: This is what ideologies always say in order to reinforce the faith of their followers.
Do we only need to follow the truth? If truth conflicts with freedom
we have a choice.
2. Specific Argument for science’s exceptional position:
a) science has found the correct method
b) results prove the superiority of science
2a) Against Method
What Method?
i. scientific theories aren’t inferred from facts. Theories may
be retained come what may.
ii. Another view: theories’ success and our preference for them
may be explained by the way that they fit in with other theories.
Such a comparison does not establish the intrinsic excellence of the theory
we have chosen but does explain why we’ve chosen it. (cf. Kitcher)
iii. not only do theories compete with each other but so do standards
of good scientific theories.
· Feyerabend: alternate theories and standards are useful,
they help illuminate each other and make the mind grow.
2b) Against Results:
Does science deserve a special position because it has generated results?
· is it clear that nothing else provides results?
i. non-science tends to die out
ii. but what of non-Western medicine, telekinesis, Church?
iii. that science produces results would count in its favour only if
these results were achieved by science alone.
· Science has done many things, but so have other things.
· The accomplishments of science aren’t from science alone.
· Science often proceeds methodologically but so do other ideologies.
· there are no strict scientific methodolgoies.
· Science should be treated as just one of many ideologies that
propel society.
“Ideologies are marvelous when used in the company of other ideologies.
They become boring and doctrinaire as soon as their merits lead to the
removal of opponents.”