The role of science in policymaking has gained unprecedented stature
in the United States, raising questions about the place of science and
scientific expertise in the democratic process. Some scientists have
been given considerable epistemic authority in shaping policy on
issues of great moral and cultural significance, and the politicizing
of these issues has become highly contentious. Since World War II,
most philosophers of science have purported the concept that science
should be "value-free." In Science, Policy and the Value-Free
Ideal, Heather E. Douglas argues that such an ideal is neither
adequate nor desirable for science. She contends that the moral
responsibilities of scientists require the consideration of values
even at the heart of science. She lobbies for a new ideal in which
values serve an essential function throughout scientific inquiry, but
where the role values play is constrained at key points, thus
protecting the integrity and objectivity of science. In this vein,
Douglas outlines a system for the application of values to guide
scientists through points of uncertainty fraught with moral
valence.Following a philosophical analysis of the historical
background of science advising and the value-free ideal, Douglas
defines how values should-and should not-function in science. She
discusses the distinctive direct and indirect roles for values in
reasoning, and outlines seven senses of objectivity, showing how each
can be employed to determine the reliability of scientific claims.
Douglas then uses these philosophical insights to clarify the
distinction between junk science and sound science to be used in
policymaking. In conclusion, she calls for greater openness on the
values utilized in policymaking, and more public participation in the
policymaking process, by suggesting various models for effective use
of both the public and experts in key risk assessments.
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Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780822973577
Publisert
2024
Utgiver
University of Pittsburgh Press
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter