From: "John McCaffrey" <mrmccaffrey96-AT-hotmail.com>
Subject: PKF: intro
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2003 06:52:57 +0000


Hi all,

I'm not actually sure whether anyone is still using this list as my 
subscription message hinted that it was last updated in 1996! Anyway, seeing 
as I'm at work with nothing in particular to do I suppose I'll give you the 
introductory spiel...

I first became interested in Paul Feyerabend whilst at University studying 
Theology and Religious Studies. One of my lecturers in Islam was, strangely 
enough, more interested in 'postmodernism', 'radical constructivism' 
etc..than he seemed to be in Islam. Now this particular lecturer was quite a 
charismatic chap given to distinctly 'unacademic' practices, such as not 
caring whether you turned up to his lectures or not. For an essentially lazy 
person such as myself, this was a Godsend and, perversely enough, this 
actually encouraged me to attend more lectures!
Anyway, through developing a passing aquaintance with Feyerabend's name by 
grazing the reading lists given to me I decided to give him a quick read. I 
started with 'Farewell To Reason' (still the best title of ANY book I've 
ever read) and, thanks to the sheer brilliance of the book, my tentative 
first steps quickly escalated into a veritable orgy of Feyerabend readings 
(to the extent that I tracked down some of his published articles amidst 
Kent University library's dusty stock of periodicals).
No-one (at least no 'mere' author) has affected my thought as much as 
Feyerabend, and despite the various criticisms levelled at him from 
philosphers (and others) I still find his 'thought' both attractive and 
tenable. As far as I can see, many criticisms of PKF's writing manage to 
miss what I think his point (if there is any ONE point) was. This 'point' 
was just that life is incredible and much too complex for any one system of 
thought to adequately convey. And although he launched a barrage of serious 
criticisms against Science (with a capital 'S') I doubt that he intended for 
scientific endeavour to be wholly brought to an end....simply curtailed so 
that it serves the needs of people rather than vice versa (which is, I 
think, the current state of affairs....I mean how many times are we told 
about the latest scientific breakthrough and are expected to greet it as the 
greatest thing ever? I for one don't particularly care about what's going 
on, or rather what's NOT going on, on the surface of Mars....especially when 
new crusades are threatening THIS world right now!)
And in closing I'd just like to say that his greatest philosophical work, in 
my opinion, is 'Killing Time' - his autobiography - in that the 'whole' 
Feyerabend is on display and not just the 'philospher'.
Ah well, I guess that'll do...erm, if anyone's 'out there' please feel free 
to let me know what's going on with the list otherwise I'll continue to be a 
lone voice in the wilderness...
Nice to 'meet' you,
John McCaffrey

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