Feyerabend’s Incommensurability and the Pragmatic Theory of Observation

Abstract

In the first two chapters I have been arguing that Feyerabend is not an irrationalist: Feyerabend can be seen as arguing against a particular conception of rationality, not against the very idea of rationality itself. There are three reasons why this interpretation of Feyerabend has not been fully appreciated. Firstly, Feyerabend’s rhetorical, provocative and polemical style of writing has sometimes made it difficult to separate the substantive positions which Feyerabend defends from the blatant provocation’s which we sometimes find him uttering. Consequently, quick readings can produce misunderstandings. Secondly, it has often been asserted that Feyerabend’s theories are inherently radically relativistic, and that this radical relativism precludes any systematic account of rationality. Thirdly, Feyerabend’s thesis of incommensurability is said to make rational choice between competing theories impossible. The first point will be dealt with throughout this book. I will examine the second point in the next chapter. In this chapter I will show that the third point concerning the putative irrationality following from the admission of incommensurable theories does not, in fact, follow. Feyerabend would want to say that theories are, in fact, commensurable, in certain ways, and that changes of theory are rationally motivated. However, a ‘Rationalist’ account of theory comparison and inter-theory relations leaves certain types of theories incommensurable. If no other principles of rationality are countenanced other than the ‘Rationalist’ ones, then Feyerabend’s conclusion is that the ‘Rationalist’ account of rationality leaves some types of theory change without the possibility of rational explication.KeywordsScientific TheoryTheoretical TermUniversal TheoryEmpirical ContentLogical EmpiricistThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.