Date: Fri, 28 Nov 1997 14:14:15 +1100
From: Lee Render <usher-AT-ar.com.au>
Subject: PKF: Theory Construction vs Theory Acceptance


Just a  couple of comments 

It seems to me that there is a big difference between an "anything goes"
attitude towards theory construction - and an "anything goes" attitude to
theory acceptance. Feyerabend stresses _methodological_ anarchy ( or rather,
use of rationalistic_heuristics_, merely as such) ( theory construction) in
AM, but tends towards the relativistic theory acceptance later  ( at least
he is interpreted as so doing -  I'm not sure exactly what he is doing,  but
PKF's later arguments in FTR seem to be off the mark because they are
hitting out at a monolithic Reason that doesn't in fact exist ( surely the
historical work in AM itself shows this ?! ) )
Being flexible in your use of heuristics, freeing oneself from a dead end
empiricism, etc etc, is not being anti-rational, its being MORE rational! 
I prefer Three Dialogues on KNowledge to Farewell to Reason in this respect,
because a more subtler view of what rationality is, is put forth positively
there - ( ie that the art/science isn't absolute, the way in which art can
embody knowledge ..)

In spite of all this, there are good theories and bad theories ! The
contextualised/heuristic/culturally aware/anarchic creative intelligence
still has to make decisions based on the performance of its theories - some
come up to scratch some don't   -- Criticism _itself_ is simply a word for
this kind of intelligent judgement and analysis. 


**********************************************************************
Contributions: mailto:feyerabend-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
Commands: mailto:majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
Requests: mailto:feyerabend-approval-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu