How not to Feyerabend: Naivety and the present attack on science by democracy

Abstract

In this paper the author attempts to show three things. First, the basis for Feyerabend’s claims are based on a liberal epistemic individualism, and ultimately a kind of rationalism. Second, that there are some fairly specific conditions under which his dadaist non-program might flourish, outside of which it can offer nothing to prevent antiscientific movements based on corporate interests that subvert the democratic process from gaining ground. Third, that the present state of science in society is, so far from being anything like an ideology, more like an embattled movement of resistance fighters against irrationality.