Feyerabend’s Counterinduction and Science Textbooks

According to Feyerabend (1970a) most scientific theories are not consistent with all known facts (p. 43). Consequently, if we tell students to accept only those theories which are consistent with the available and accepted facts, we shall be left without any theory. To solve this dilemma, Feyerabend suggested a change in methodology by admitting counterinduction, namely accepting unsupported hypotheses. According to Kalman (2019b): “Counterinduction is the process by which one theory or idea is used to effect change in its rival.” Furthermore, all scientists working in a field of knowledge do not necessarily agree with respect to all “observations”, “experimental results” and “theories.” Such views may be considered as “apocalyptic” by some and Feyerabend himself as the worst enemy of science, who still paid the following tribute to science, “Science gives us theories of high beauty and sophistication. Modern science has developed mathematical structures which exceed anything that has existed so far in coherence and generality” (Feyerabend, 1970a, p. 42).