Economics Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Rationality, philosophy: rationality is the ability of a being to consciously adapt to a situation due to the generalizations of his experiences. It can also be rational to want to learn something new. See also system, order, creativity, discoveries, evaluation, repetition._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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Paul Feyerabend on Rationality - Dictionary of Arguments
I 206 Rationality/Reason/Science/Theory/Feyerabend: in the time of Galileo the church stuck much more closely to reason than Galileo did himself, and it also considered the ethical and social consequences of the Galilean teachings. Its judgment against Galileo was rational and just, and its revision can only be justified in a politically opportunist way. I 212 Church/Galileo/Feyerabend: the church was by no means dogmatic. It did not say: what is contrary to the Bible, as we understand it, is false. It did not push aside scientific truths, but they were rather used to review traditional conceptions about the meaning of certain passages from the Bible. For example, there are many passages where the earth is clearly described as flat. Nevertheless, the conception of the sphericity of the earth was an integral part of the Church's teachers from the eleventh century on. The church, however, wanted precise evidence, not vague assumptions (e.g. poor observations with the telescope). Therefore, Galileo was forbidden in the process to present the Copernican doctrine as truth! But he was allowed to use it as a hypothesis! I 214 Galileo/Feyerabend: Galieo had only contempt for people who could not rise to the fine regions of mathematical thought with him: "the uneducated mob." He appears less open-minded than the Church. Cardinal Bellarmine/Feyerabend: one must be very careful about authors who claim that the sun is in the center. Perhaps we do not understand them. I 217 Duhem/Feyerabend: logic was on the side of Cardinal Bellarmine and not on the side of Galileo. Only the former had understood the experimental method. I 218 Church/Galileo/Feyerabend: the church was probably right to point out that the "uneducated mob", which also consists of people, should not be disturbed by unfounded claims. Press/Public: even today, press releases without evidence are considered a mortal sin. Against such an approach modern science reacts with the sharpest tools available to it. >G. Galilei._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Feyerabend I Paul Feyerabend Against Method. Outline of an Anarchistic Theory of Knowledge, London/New York 1971 German Edition: Wider den Methodenzwang Frankfurt 1997 Feyerabend II P. Feyerabend Science in a Free Society, London/New York 1982 German Edition: Erkenntnis für freie Menschen Frankfurt 1979 |
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> Counter arguments against Feyerabend
> Counter arguments in relation to Rationality
