The Value Of Science

Author : Heather Douglas
Publisher : University of Pittsburgh Pre
Page : 227 pages
File Size : 50,8 Mb
Release : 2009-07-15
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780822973577

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Science, Policy, and the Value-Free Ideal by Heather Douglas Pdf

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.

Author : Henri Poincare
Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Page : 92 pages
File Size : 41,9 Mb
Release : 2017-01-24
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1542718899

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The Value of Science by Henri Poincare Pdf

The Value of ScienceLa Valeur de la ScienceHenri Poincar�The Value of Science (French: La Valeur de la Science) is a book by the French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher Henri Poincar�. It was published in 1905. The book deals with questions in the philosophy of science and adds detail to the topics addressed by Poincar�'s previous book, Science and Hypothesis (1902).The search for truth should be the goal of our activities; it is the sole end worthy of them. Doubtless we should first bend our efforts to assuage human suffering, but why? Not to suffer is a negative ideal more surely attained by the annihilation of the world. If we wish more and more to free man from material cares, it is that he may be able to employ the liberty obtained in the study and contemplation of truth.But sometimes truth frightens us. And in fact we know that it is sometimes deceptive, that it is a phantom never showing itself for a moment except to ceaselessly flee, that it must be pursued further and ever further without ever being attained. Yet to work one must stop, as some Greek, Aristotle or another, has said. We also know how cruel the truth often is, and we wonder whether illusion is not more consoling, yea, even more bracing, for illusion it is which gives confidence. When it shall have vanished, will hope remain and shall we have the courage to achieve? Thus would not the horse harnessed to his treadmill refuse to go, were his eyes not bandaged? And then to seek truth it is necessary to be independent, wholly independent. If, on the contrary, we wish to act, to be strong, we should be united. This is why many of us fear truth; we consider it a cause of weakness. Yet truth should not be feared, for it alone is beautiful.

Author : Wayne Melville,Donald Kerr
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 164 pages
File Size : 50,7 Mb
Release : 2020-09-02
Category : Education
ISBN : 9781000175813

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Virtues as Integral to Science Education by Wayne Melville,Donald Kerr Pdf

By investigating the re-emergence of intellectual, moral, and civic virtues in the practice and teaching of science, this text challenges the increasing professionalization of science; questions the view of scientific knowledge as objective; and highlights the relationship between democracy and science. Written by a range of experts in science, the history of science, education and philosophy, the text establishes the historical relationship between natural philosophy and the Aristotelian virtues before moving to the challenges that the relationship faces, with the emergence, and increasing hegemony, brought about by the professionalization of science. Exploring how virtues relate to citizenship, technology, and politics, the chapters in this work illustrate the ways in which virtues are integral to understanding the values and limitations of science, and its role in informing democratic engagement. The text also demonstrates how the guiding virtues of scientific inquiry can be communicated in the classroom to the benefit of both individuals and wider societies. Scholars in the fields of Philosophy of Science, Ethics and Philosophy of Education, as well as Science Education, will find this book to be highly useful.

Author : Richard P. Feynman
Publisher : Basic Books
Page : 59 pages
File Size : 40,5 Mb
Release : 2009-04-29
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780786739141

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The Meaning of It All by Richard P. Feynman Pdf

Many appreciate Richard P. Feynman's contributions to twentieth-century physics, but few realize how engaged he was with the world around him -- how deeply and thoughtfully he considered the religious, political, and social issues of his day. Now, a wonderful book -- based on a previously unpublished, three-part public lecture he gave at the University of Washington in 1963 -- shows us this other side of Feynman, as he expounds on the inherent conflict between science and religion, people's distrust of politicians, and our universal fascination with flying saucers, faith healing, and mental telepathy. Here we see Feynman in top form: nearly bursting into a Navajo war chant, then pressing for an overhaul of the English language (if you want to know why Johnny can't read, just look at the spelling of "friend"); and, finally, ruminating on the death of his first wife from tuberculosis. This is quintessential Feynman -- reflective, amusing, and ever enlightening.

Author : Hugh Lacey
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 296 pages
File Size : 51,6 Mb
Release : 2005-06-23
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781134619757

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Is Science Value Free? by Hugh Lacey Pdf

Hugh Lacey discusses how science and values interact, with a focus on a discussion of development, and science's place in development, particularly in third world countries.

Author : Harold Kincaid,John Dupre,Alison Wylie
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 256 pages
File Size : 46,7 Mb
Release : 2007-03-15
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780190294793

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Value-Free Science by Harold Kincaid,John Dupre,Alison Wylie Pdf

It has long been thought that science is our best hope for realizing objective knowledge, but that, to deliver on this promise, it must be value free. Things are not so simple, however, as recent work in science studies makes clear. The contributors to this volume investigate where and how values are involved in science, and examine the implications of this involvement for ideals of objectivity.

Author : Robert Proctor
Publisher : Harvard University Press
Page : 364 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 1991
Category : History
ISBN : 067493170X

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Value-free Science? by Robert Proctor Pdf

Proctor lucidly demonstrates how value-neutrality is a reaction to larger political developments, including the use of science by government and industry, the specialization of professional disciplines, and the efforts to stifle intellectual freedoms or to politicize the world of the academy.

Author : Naomi Oreskes
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 386 pages
File Size : 43,9 Mb
Release : 2021-04-06
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780691212265

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Why Trust Science? by Naomi Oreskes Pdf

Why the social character of scientific knowledge makes it trustworthy Are doctors right when they tell us vaccines are safe? Should we take climate experts at their word when they warn us about the perils of global warming? Why should we trust science when so many of our political leaders don't? Naomi Oreskes offers a bold and compelling defense of science, revealing why the social character of scientific knowledge is its greatest strength—and the greatest reason we can trust it. Tracing the history and philosophy of science from the late nineteenth century to today, this timely and provocative book features a new preface by Oreskes and critical responses by climate experts Ottmar Edenhofer and Martin Kowarsch, political scientist Jon Krosnick, philosopher of science Marc Lange, and science historian Susan Lindee, as well as a foreword by political theorist Stephen Macedo.

Author : James S. J. Schwartz
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
Page : 273 pages
File Size : 41,6 Mb
Release : 2020
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780190069063

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The Value of Science in Space Exploration by James S. J. Schwartz Pdf

"The Value of Space Science provides a rigorous assessment of the value of scientific knowledge and understanding in the context of contemporary space exploration. It argues that traditional spaceflight rationales are deficient, and that the strongest defense of spaceflight comes from its potential to produce intrinsically and instrumentally valuable knowledge and understanding. It engages with contemporary epistemology to articulate an account of the intrinsic value of scientific knowledge and understanding. It also parleys with recent work in science policy and social philosophy of science to characterize the instrumental value of scientific research, identifying space research as an effective generator of new knowledge and understanding. These values found an ethical obligation to engage in scientific examination of the space environment. This obligation has important implications for major space policy discussions, including debates surrounding planetary protection policies, space resource exploitation, and human space settlement. Whereas planetary protection policies are currently employed to prevent biological contamination only of sites of interest in the search for extraterrestrial life, it contends that all sites of interest to space science ought to be protected. Meanwhile, space resource exploitation and human space settlement would result in extensive disruption or destruction of pristine space environments. The overall ethical value of these environments in the production of new knowledge and understanding is greater than their value as commercial or real commodities, and thus, exploitation and settlement of space should be avoided until the scientific community adequately understands these environments"--

Author : James Wilsdon,Jack Stilgoe,Brian Wynne
Publisher : Demos Medical Publishing
Page : 67 pages
File Size : 43,5 Mb
Release : 2005
Category : Science
ISBN : 1841801518

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The Public Value of Science by James Wilsdon,Jack Stilgoe,Brian Wynne Pdf

Author : Susanne Hecker,Muki Haklay,Anne Bowser,Zen Makuch,Johannes Vogel,Aletta Bonn
Publisher : UCL Press
Page : 582 pages
File Size : 52,7 Mb
Release : 2018-10-15
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781787352339

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Citizen Science by Susanne Hecker,Muki Haklay,Anne Bowser,Zen Makuch,Johannes Vogel,Aletta Bonn Pdf

Citizen science, the active participation of the public in scientific research projects, is a rapidly expanding field in open science and open innovation. It provides an integrated model of public knowledge production and engagement with science. As a growing worldwide phenomenon, it is invigorated by evolving new technologies that connect people easily and effectively with the scientific community. Catalysed by citizens’ wishes to be actively involved in scientific processes, as a result of recent societal trends, it also offers contributions to the rise in tertiary education. In addition, citizen science provides a valuable tool for citizens to play a more active role in sustainable development. This book identifies and explains the role of citizen science within innovation in science and society, and as a vibrant and productive science-policy interface. The scope of this volume is global, geared towards identifying solutions and lessons to be applied across science, practice and policy. The chapters consider the role of citizen science in the context of the wider agenda of open science and open innovation, and discuss progress towards responsible research and innovation, two of the most critical aspects of science today.

Author : Kevin C. Elliott
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 224 pages
File Size : 50,5 Mb
Release : 2017-01-02
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780190260828

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A Tapestry of Values by Kevin C. Elliott Pdf

The role of values in scientific research has become an important topic of discussion in both scholarly and popular debates. Pundits across the political spectrum worry that research on topics like climate change, evolutionary theory, vaccine safety, and genetically modified foods has become overly politicized. At the same time, it is clear that values play an important role in science by limiting unethical forms of research and by deciding what areas of research have the greatest relevance for society. Deciding how to distinguish legitimate and illegitimate influences of values in scientific research is a matter of vital importance. Recently, philosophers of science have written a great deal on this topic, but most of their work has been directed toward a scholarly audience. This book makes the contemporary philosophical literature on science and values accessible to a wide readership. It examines case studies from a variety of research areas, including climate science, anthropology, chemical risk assessment, ecology, neurobiology, biomedical research, and agriculture. These cases show that values have necessary roles to play in identifying research topics, choosing research questions, determining the aims of inquiry, responding to uncertainty, and deciding how to communicate information. Kevin Elliott focuses not just on describing roles for values but also on determining when their influences are actually appropriate. He emphasizes several conditions for incorporating values in a legitimate fashion, and highlights multiple strategies for fostering engagement between stakeholders so that value influences can be subjected to careful and critical scrutiny.

Author : Helen E. Longino
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 274 pages
File Size : 50,6 Mb
Release : 2020-03-31
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780691209753

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Science as Social Knowledge by Helen E. Longino Pdf

Conventional wisdom has it that the sciences, properly pursued, constitute a pure, value-free method of obtaining knowledge about the natural world. In light of the social and normative dimensions of many scientific debates, Helen Longino finds that general accounts of scientific methodology cannot support this common belief. Focusing on the notion of evidence, the author argues that a methodology powerful enough to account for theories of any scope and depth is incapable of ruling out the influence of social and cultural values in the very structuring of knowledge. The objectivity of scientific inquiry can nevertheless be maintained, she proposes, by understanding scientific inquiry as a social rather than an individual process. Seeking to open a dialogue between methodologists and social critics of the sciences, Longino develops this concept of "contextual empiricism" in an analysis of research programs that have drawn criticism from feminists. Examining theories of human evolution and of prenatal hormonal determination of "gender-role" behavior, of sex differences in cognition, and of sexual orientation, the author shows how assumptions laden with social values affect the description, presentation, and interpretation of data. In particular, Longino argues that research on the hormonal basis of "sex-differentiated behavior" involves assumptions not only about gender relations but also about human action and agency. She concludes with a discussion of the relation between science, values, and ideology, based on the work of Habermas, Foucault, Keller, and Haraway.

Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine,Policy and Global Affairs,Committee on Science, Engineering, Medicine, and Public Policy,Committee on Responsible Science
Publisher : National Academies Press
Page : 327 pages
File Size : 46,8 Mb
Release : 2018-01-13
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780309391252

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Fostering Integrity in Research by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine,Policy and Global Affairs,Committee on Science, Engineering, Medicine, and Public Policy,Committee on Responsible Science Pdf

The integrity of knowledge that emerges from research is based on individual and collective adherence to core values of objectivity, honesty, openness, fairness, accountability, and stewardship. Integrity in science means that the organizations in which research is conducted encourage those involved to exemplify these values in every step of the research process. Understanding the dynamics that support â€" or distort â€" practices that uphold the integrity of research by all participants ensures that the research enterprise advances knowledge. The 1992 report Responsible Science: Ensuring the Integrity of the Research Process evaluated issues related to scientific responsibility and the conduct of research. It provided a valuable service in describing and analyzing a very complicated set of issues, and has served as a crucial basis for thinking about research integrity for more than two decades. However, as experience has accumulated with various forms of research misconduct, detrimental research practices, and other forms of misconduct, as subsequent empirical research has revealed more about the nature of scientific misconduct, and because technological and social changes have altered the environment in which science is conducted, it is clear that the framework established more than two decades ago needs to be updated. Responsible Science served as a valuable benchmark to set the context for this most recent analysis and to help guide the committee's thought process. Fostering Integrity in Research identifies best practices in research and recommends practical options for discouraging and addressing research misconduct and detrimental research practices.

Author : Henri Poincaré
Publisher : DigiCat
Page : 556 pages
File Size : 52,6 Mb
Release : 2022-08-01
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : EAN:8596547124986

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The Foundations of Science: Science and Hypothesis, The Value of Science, Science and Method by Henri Poincaré Pdf

DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of "The Foundations of Science: Science and Hypothesis, The Value of Science, Science and Method" by Henri Poincaré. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature.