Counterfeit Scientific Controversies in Science Policy Contexts
Cardiff University, Cardiff School of Social Sciences Working Paper No. 120
21 Pages Posted: 21 Nov 2008 Last revised: 24 Jan 2009
Date Written: November 21, 2008
Abstract
Experts disagree for many reasons and it is generally accepted that there is no 'rational' way to make them agree. As Michaels (2008) has demonstrated with regard to the activities of the tobacco industry, however, expert disagreement can be 'manufactured'. This suggests a distinction between 'genuine' and 'counterfeit scientific controversies.' I argue that it is necessary and possible to distinguish between these two forms of expert disagreement. It is important for policy-making to know which disagreements to take seriously. 'Counterfeit scientific controversies' can delay or impede policy-decisions that depend on scientific knowledge. One way for Science & Technology Studies to contribute to science policy-making is to develop a consistent and reliable way to demarcate 'genuine' from 'counterfeit scientific controversies'. This paper proposes four sociologically derived demarcation criteria.
Keywords: Scientific Controversies, demarcation, science policy making, gravitational wave detection, MMR, HIV/AIDS
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation