Feyerabend, Paul

Philosopher of Science Austrian 1924 – 1994

Argued for epistemological anarchism and pluralism.

427 quotes

"The past is not fixed; it is constantly reinterpreted in light of new knowledge."
History
"Knowledge is power, but power is not always knowledge."
Power
"The mind is not a mirror of nature but an active creator of meaning."
Philosophy
"There is no such thing as a neutral observation."
Science
"Life is an adventure, not a problem to be solved."
Adventure
"The boundaries between science and non-science are drawn by convention, not by nature."
Science
"To be human is to be free, and freedom requires the courage to think for oneself."
Courage
"The multiplicity of viewpoints enriches our understanding of reality."
Wisdom
"Language is not a neutral tool for expressing thoughts; it shapes our thoughts."
"Progress is not inevitable; it must be fought for and defended."
Perseverance
"The scientist who adheres rigidly to method is a slave to dogma."
Freedom
"Every tradition contains seeds of truth and seeds of error."
Wisdom
"Knowledge is always provisional and subject to revision."
Knowledge
"The universe is indifferent to our theories and our classifications."
Truth
"We create the world we live in through our interpretations and choices."
Creativity
"The pursuit of happiness is less important than the pursuit of meaning."
Happiness
"Education should encourage critical thinking, not obedience."
Education
"The greatest discoveries often come from challenging established orthodoxy."
Courage
"There is no objective reality, only reality as it appears to conscious beings."
Philosophy
"The conflict between different worldviews is inevitable and productive."
Change
"We must learn to live with uncertainty and ambiguity."
Wisdom
"Science is one way of knowing among many; it is not the only or the best way."
Science
"The past teaches us what is possible; it does not determine what must be."
History
"Freedom is not the absence of constraints but the ability to choose among them."
Freedom
"Every act of creation is also an act of destruction."
Creativity
"The universe is not a machine; it is more like a living organism."
Nature
"Truth is not discovered but invented."
Truth
"The mind is not bound by the laws of logic; it is bound only by the laws of life."
Philosophy
"Tradition is valuable not because it is old but because it has survived."
Wisdom
"Change is the only constant in nature and in human affairs."
Change