AQUINO Journal of Philosophy

This article focuses on an evaluation of Paul Feyerabend's anarchistic approach in philosophy of science. Feyerabend advocated for anarchism in science which encourages plurality of methods in scientific investigations. His anarchistic approach was a source of great controversy among contemporary philosophers of science because of its revolutionary nature. The basic questions are: What does Feyerabend mean by anarchistic approach in scientific investigation? Does such contradict the nature of science as an organized and systematic enterprise? Has Feyerabend's anarchism any implication for scientific methodology and progress? What are the strengths and weaknesses of Feyerabend's anarchistic approach in philosophy of science? In the bid to address these and other related issues, this article employs analytical and hermeneutical methods of philosophical investigation to examine the intricacies of Feyerabend's anarchism in philosophy of science. The researcher argues that though Feyerabend's anarchism elicited criticisms from some philosophers of science because of its controversial nature, Feyerabend contributed immensely towards the development of knowledge in contemporary philosophy of science. This article maintains that despite the loopholes and shortcomings of Feyerabend's anarchism in philosophy of science, it is an invitation for scientists to discover and explore many new methods of scientific investigation.

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