Scientific Theories: Rational vs Historical Tradition

Modern science, like culture as a whole, is the diversity of points of view, opinions and assessments. Some scientists advocate the creation of a common criteria, a single base or common rules for scientific knowledge and science. Others are supporters of diversity, which allows the creation of new sciences or directions by connecting both adjacent and non-adjacent areas. Paul Feyerabend analyzes this topic in detail in his Against Method, Science in a Free Society, Farewell to Reason! Feyerabend separates two traditions in the justification of scientific theories: rational and historical. The first tradition is science as a body of knowledge, the second is science as a living activity that is part of history. Feyerabend separates the context of discovery (history of obtaining part of knowledge) and the context of justification (content and methods of recognition). The rational tradition differs from the historical one: the former successfully creates formulations, theories, principles and facts that are presented as objective, universal. The historical tradition is characterized by creativity in the creation of a scientific theory. The rational tradition dictates laws by which scientific research should develop and which must be observed. Considering modern versions of approaches to the study of science, the formulations “historical” and “rational” proposed by Feyerabend seem to be not logical enough to clarify the differences. The problem of the choice of tradition in modern philosophy is not resolved categorically. In modern research, a new type of rationality is formed in a moral and ethical context. The relevant problems of the ethics of the scientist in the study of technical knowledge and the technosphere raise the question of choosing a method in a new way. The analysis of historical and philosophical ideas demonstrates, first, the duration of the existence of universal methods in different time frames and, then, a return to the problem of choosing traditions. Thus, the problem of choosing the rational or historical tradition (or in other interpretations) is solved by the goals and expected results of scientific activity rather than by creating a comprehensive method or approach.

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