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Science (besides political science) is not about politics or policy making. Science is about earnestly seeking reliable knowledge. By placing scientists in poli
by hertzrat 6y ago
Science (besides political science) is not about politics or policy making. Science is about earnestly seeking reliable knowledge. By placing scientists in political roles where they may need to “play the game” to get results, it makes the advice they give less reliable due to compromises or political pressure, and makes people trust science less as a side effect. Not that scientists shouldn’t be in office, just that acting in both roles at once is complicated
- ethbr0 6y ago"Science" as a pursuit of knowledge is. Technically, in the US, executive branch agencies do two things: (1) sponsor actual science (either directly by employees, or by grant to third parties), (2) decide on how to apply scientific results. "The EPA" is more of a body concerned with "What do we do about scientific results?" than "What is scientific truth?" It often conducts research, usually in areas where private industry has no incentive to do so, but that's not why it exists. And historically the dichotomy between science and policy has been reflected in the organization: scientists were highly discouraged from advocating policy positions in their research results, and policymakers were highly discouraged from influencing science.
- hcurtiss 6y agoBoth norms are rapidly changing.
- zepto 6y ago> Science (besides political science) is not about politics or policy making. Science is about earnestly seeking reliable knowledge. You are talking about the scientific method. Science is generally used as a broader term that includes how practice of the scientific method relates to society.