Relativism in Feyerabend's later writings.
This paper reconstructs, and distinguishes between, Feyerabend's different forms of relativism in his later writings. Science in a Free Society remains close to familiar forms of relativism, while, at the same time, developing an original but under-argued form of political relativism, and rejecting "conversion" models of cultural exchange. Farewell to Reason moves away from common renderings of relativism, and develops a range of different new forms. Central here are links between relativism, skepticism and infallibilism. In the last six years of his life, Feyerabend often criticizes a peculiar radical form of relativism that arguably no-one has ever proposed or defended. In the same context, Feyerabend sketches an "ontological" form of relativism. It combines "Kantian humility", metaphysical pluralism and constructivism.
Department of Philosophy, University of Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: martin.kusch@univie.ac.at.
Martin
M
Kusch
D028781:Ethical Relativism / Q000266:history*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D010684:Philosophy / Q000266:history*
Epistemic relativism; Feyerabend; Ontological relativism; Pluralism; Political relativism; Relativism