Le statut des mythes en science. une analyse des textes de Paul Karl Feyerabend

Abstract

The present reflection focuses on the epistemological status of myths in science, based on a philosophical analysis of the texts of Paul Karl Feyerabend. It is part of the vast field of fundamental epistemology, the philosophy of language and the sociology of knowledge. It is a work of 150 pages divided into three main parts, each with three chapters. More precisely, this research work provide clarifications on the preoccupation of role and function of myths in scientific progress. Thus, the effectiveness of such an intellectual adventure depends on the answer to the following questions: of what relevance can be mythical tradition in the scientific field? More preferably, do myths actually have no epistemological consistency? Does science succeeds in explaining all the natural phenomena faces by humanity? Are myths, far from being conceived as illusory instances, not participating in the progress of science? How to integrate the mythical discourse into the scientific order without diluting the specificity of scientific knowledge? To overcome this concern, the analytical approach is used to account for Paul Feyerabend's thinking, its limits and the implications of his philosophy. The challenge and specificity of this research consisting in presentating the relevance of mythical discourses in scientific progress, as a nourishing udder, as a foundation of scientific knowledge. In total, this study on the epistemological status of myths in science, through the texts of Paul Feyerabend,gives us to understand that science is an open field to other heuristic horizons. In fact, the author of Against Method has just put an end to all forms of epistemological and dogmatic authoritarianism. He establishes an epistemology that integrates within it the idea of pluralism, both methodological and gnoseological. Far beyond its problems of relevance linked to the trivialisation of scientific knowledge and the celebration of irrational, Feyerabendian thought has broadened the field of understanding and explanation of phenomena.