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

See all articles by Martin Weinel

Martin Weinel

Cardiff School of Social Sciences

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

Weinel, Martin, Counterfeit Scientific Controversies in Science Policy Contexts (November 21, 2008). Cardiff University, Cardiff School of Social Sciences Working Paper No. 120, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1305123 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1305123

Martin Weinel (Contact Author)

Cardiff School of Social Sciences ( email )

The Glamorgan Building
King Edward VII Avenue
Cardiff, Wales CF10 3WT
United Kingdom

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