January 13

Paul Feyerabend was born in Vienna in 1924 and trained in physics and philosophy. He became a prolific academic and taught at institutions including the University of California, Berkeley. His 1975 work Against Method challenged the notion of a universal scientific method and proposed epistemological anarchism. Feyerabend argued that science advances through a plurality of approaches rather than strict rules. He engaged in celebrated debates with philosophers like Karl Popper and contributed to the sociology of scientific knowledge. His writings have influenced fields from philosophy of science to cultural studies. Feyerabend passed away in 1994, leaving a legacy of bold and controversial ideas.