Reasons for relativism: Feyerabend on the 'Rise of Rationalism' in ancient Greece.
This paper argues that essential features of Feyerabend's philosophy, namely his radicalization of critical rationalism and his turn to relativism, could be understood better in the light of his engagement with early Greek thought. In contrast to his earlier, Popperian views he came to see the Homeric worldview as a genuine alternative, which was not falsified by the Presocratics. Unlike socio-psychological and externalist accounts my reading of his published and unpublished material suggests that his alternative reconstruction of the ancient beginnings of the Western scientific tradition motivate and justify his moderate Protagorean relativism.
Tongji University, Department of Philosophy, 1239 Siping Road, 200092 Shanghai, PR China. Electronic address: helmut.heit@web.de.
Helmut
H
Heit
D006115:Greece; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D010684:Philosophy / Q000266:history*; D012586:Science / Q000266:history*
Pluralism; Popper; Presocratics; Protagoras; Rationalism; Relativism