Science in a Free Society
ISBN 0860917533 | | |
Preceded by | Against Method | |
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Followed by | Science as Art |
Science in a Free Society is the 2nd full length book by the Austrian philosopher of science, Paul Feyerabend. It was published in 1978 by Schocken Books and later reprinted by Verso Books. While Feyerabend never published a second edition, Verso pressed four copies in 1982, 1983, 1985, and 1987.[1]
Parts of the book were reprinted in later editions of Against Method. The book largely develops arguments from the first edition of Against Method and spells out their political implications.[2] The book also contains a collection of previously published material in which he responds to some of his critics of Against Method. In 1979, Feyerabend also published, in German, Erkenntnis für freie Menschen (Knowledge for Free People), which contains roughly two-thirds of the material from Science in a Society while expanding on some sections and diminishing others.[3]
Translations
Science in a Free Society has been translated into 6 languages:[4]
- Japanese translation: Jiyujin no tameno chi: Kagakuron no kaitai e, Shin'yosha: Tokyo 1982, ix+333 pp.
- Spanish translation by Alberto Elena: La ciencia en una sociedad libre, Siglo XXI de España: Madrid 1982, 272 pp.
- Turkish translation by Ahmet Kardam: Özgür Bir Toplumda Bilim, Ayrıntı: Istanbul 1987 [reprint 1999], 265 pp.
- Chinese translation by Yazhu Lan, Shangahi Translation Publishing House: Sahnghai 1990, 257 pp.
- Arabic translation by al-Sayyid Nafadi: al-‘Ilm fī mujtama‘ ḥurr, al-Majlis al-A'lá lil-Thaqāfah: al-Qāhirah 2000, 162 pp.
- Portuguese translation by Vera Joscelyne: A Ciência em uma sociedade livre, UNESP: São Paulo 2011.
Content
The book is divided into three sections. The first section, entitled "Reason and Practice", develops Feyerabend's theory of rationality as something embedded in, rather than separate from, traditions. The second section, "Science in a Free Society", develops Feyerabend's views about the place of science in democratic societies. The final section, "Conversations with Illiterates", provides responses to criticisms of Against Method.
Reason and Practice
The first section develops a version of Protagorean relativism. Feyerabend argues against two views: idealism, which he defines as the view that the authority of reason is independent from tradition and practice, and naturalism or the view that the authority of reason derives from practice.[5] Idealism is wrong, Feyerabend argues, because the authority of reason depends on its ability to be integrated into a coherent practice. If one were to apply a view of rationality to practice and the practice were to suffer, then the theory of rationality can be rejected. Naturalism is wrong because it treats the norms that already happen to be in practice dogmatically. Feyerabend develops a view that synthesizes elements of each, which he claims amounts to a form of relativism.[6]
To allow for
Science in a Free Society
The second section spells out the political implications of relativism. Feyerabend argues against the view that there should be '
Conversations with Illiterates
The final section collects some of Feyerabend's previously published responses to criticisms of Against Method. This section is largely
Scholarly Response
Responses to Science in a Free Society were mixed, but largely positive.[11][12]
References
- ^ Feyerabend, Paul K. (1978). Science in a Free Society. pp. inside flap.
- ^ Feyerabend, Paul K. (1978). Science in a Free Society. p. 1.
- ^ Feyerabend, Paul K. (1987). Farewell to Reason (1 ed.). p. 280.
- ^ "The Works of P. K. Feyerabend".
- ^ Feyerabend, Paul K. (1978). Science in a Free Society. p. 24.
- ^ Feyerabend, Paul K. (1978). Science in a Free Society. p. 28.
- ^ Feyerabend, Paul K. (1978). Science in a Free Society. p. 29.
- ^ Feyerabend, Paul K. (1978). Science in a Free Society. p. 96.
- ^ Feyerabend, Paul K. (1978). Science in a Free Society. p. 106.
- ^ Feyerabend, Paul K. (1978). Science in a Free Society. p. 125.
- ISBN 978-94-011-3188-9.
- JSTOR 687065.
Bibliography
- Clark, Stephen R. L. (1980). "Review of Science in a Free Society". The Philosophical Quarterly. 30 (119): 172–174. JSTOR 2219292.
- Dumez, Hervé (1983). "Review of Contre la méthode; Science in a Free Society, Paul Feyerabend". L'Année Sociologique (1940/1948-). 33: 301–306. JSTOR 27889717.
- Dunlap, Thomas R. (1984). "Review of Science in a Free Society". Isis. 75 (1): 211–212. JSTOR 232378.
- Freese, Lee (1980). "Review of Science in a Free Society". JSTOR 2064270.
- Joravsky, David (June 28, 1979). "Scientists as Servants". ISSN 0028-7504.
- Koertge, Noretta (1980). "Review of Science in a Free Society". The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science. 31 (4): 385–390. JSTOR 687065.
- Largeault, J. (1979). "Review of Science in a Free Society". Revue Philosophique de la France et de l'Étranger. 169 (4): 448–451. JSTOR 41095149.
- Munévar, Gonzalo (1991). "Science in Feyerabend's Free Society". In Munévar, Gonzalo (ed.). Beyond Reason: Essays on the Philosophy of Paul Feyerabend. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science. Vol. 132. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. pp. 179–198. ISBN 978-94-011-3188-9.
- "Review of Research Policy Program; Science in a Free Society; 'The Political Economy of Science' and 'The Radicalisation of Science'". Acta Sociologica. 22 (2): 201–204. 1979. JSTOR 4194294.
- Schlagel, Richard H. (1981). "Review of Science in a Free Society". JSTOR 20127668.
- Steedman, Philip (1982). "Review of Against Method: Outline of an Anarchistic Theory of Knowledge; Science in a Free Society, P. K. Feyerabend". Theory and Society. 11 (5): 724–728. JSTOR 657348.
- Steiner, George (February 1979). "A revaluation of all values". S2CID 36697254.