Skip to main content
Log in

Science and politics: Dangerous liaisons

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal for General Philosophy of Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

In contrast to the opinion of numerous authors (e.g. R. Rudner, P. Kitcher, L. R. Graham, M. Dummett, N. Chomsky, R. Lewontin, etc.) it is argued here that the formation of opinion in science should be greatly insulated from political considerations. Special attention is devoted to the view that methodological standards for evaluation of scientific theories ought to vary according to the envisaged political uses of these theories.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barber, B.: 1952,Science and the Social Order, Glencoe, Ill.: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Black, M.: 1978, ‘Scientific Neutrality’,Encounter, August.

  • Blalock, C. H. M., Jr.: 1972,Social Statistics (2nd ed.), New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Block, N. J. and G. Dworkin: ‘IQ, Heritability, and Inequality’, in N. Block and G. Dworkin (eds.),The IQ Controversy, New York: Random House.

  • Caplan, A. L.: 1980, ‘A Critical Examination of Current Sociobiological Theory: Adequacy and Implications’, in G. W. Barlow and J. Silverberg (eds.),Sociobiology: Beyond Nature/Nurture, Boulder: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cargile, J.: 1966, ‘Pascal's Wager’,Philosophy 35.

  • Ceci, S. J., D. Peters, and J. Plotkin: 1985, ‘Human Subjects Review, Personal Values, and the Regulation of Social Science Research’,American Psychologist 40.

  • Chomsky, N.: 1976, ‘The Fallacy of Richard Herrnstein's IQ’, in N. Block and G. Dworkin (eds.),The IQ Controversy, New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, B. D.: 1986,Storm Over Biology: Essays on Science, Sentiment, and Public Policy, Buffalo: Prometheus Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dummett, D.: 1981, ‘Ought Research to Be Unrestricted?’,Grazer Philosophische Studien 12–13.

  • Elster, J. 1984,Ulysses and the Sirens, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankel C. (ed.): 1976,Controversies and Decisions, New York: Russell Sage Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaa, J. G.: 1977, ‘Moral Autonomy and the Rationality of Science’,Philosophy of Science 44.

  • Gordon, R. A.: 1987, ‘Jensen's Contributions Concerning Test Bias: A Contextual View’, in S. Modgil and C. Modgil (eds.),Arthur Jensen: Consensus and Controversy, New York, Philadelphia &, London: The Falmer Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gould, S. J.: 1981,The Mismeasure of Man, Harmondsworth: Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gould, S. J.: 1987, ‘Jensen's Last Stand’, in hisAn Urchin in the Storm, New York & London: W. W. Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, L. R.: 1981,Between Science and Values, New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hacking, I.: 1975,The Emergence of Probability, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henkel, R.: 1978,The Tests of Significance, Beverly Hills: The Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, A. R.: 1969, ‘How Much Can We Boost IQ and Scholastic Achievement’,Harvard Educational Review 39.

  • Jensen, A. R.: 1972,Genetics and Education, London: Methuen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, A. R.: 1973, ‘Between-groups Heritability’, in hisEducability and Group Differences, London: Methuen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, A. R.: 1976, ‘Race and Intelligence: A Reply to Lewontin’, in N. Block and G. Dworkin (eds.),The IQ Controversy, New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, A. R.: 1981, ‘Obstacles, Problems, and Pitfalls in Differential Psychology’, in Scarr (1981).

  • Kamin, L. J.: 1974,The Science and Politics of I.Q., Potomac: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kantrowitz, A.: 1975, ‘Controlling Technology Democratically’,American Scientist 63.

  • Kitcher, P.: 1985,Vaulting Ambition, Cambridge, Mass. & London: The MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ladd, E. C. Jr. & S. M. Lipset: 1975,The Divided Academy: Professors and Politics, New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackie, J. L.: 1982,The Miracle of Theism, Oxford: Clarendon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, N. and R. Jardine: 1986, ‘Eysenck's Contributions to Behaviour Genetics’, in S. Modgil and C. Modgil (eds.),Hans Eysenck: Consensus and Controversy, Philadelphia & London: The Falmer Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazur, A.: 1981,The Dynamics of Technical Controversy, Washington: Communications Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, R. C.: 1984, ‘Biology and Ideology: The Interpenetration of Science and Values’,Philosophy of Science 51.

  • Rose, S., R. Lewontin and L. J. Kamin: 1984,Not in Our Genes: Biology, Ideology and Human Nature, Harmondsworth: Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudner, R.: 1953, ‘The ScientistQua Scientist Makes value Judgments:Philosophy of Science 20.

  • Scarr, S.: 1981,Race, Social Class, and Individual Differences in I.Q., Hillsdale, N.J.: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyderman M. and S. Rothman: 1986, ‘Science, Politics, and the IQ Controversy’,Public Interest, Spring, pp. 79–97.

  • Snyderman M. & S. Rothman: 1987, ‘Survey of Expert Opinion on Intelligence and Aptitude Testing’,American Psychologist 42.

  • Stent, G. S.: 1978,Paradoxes of Progress, San Francisco: W. H. Freeman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wade, N.: 1978, ‘Sociobiology: Troubled Birth for New Discipline’, in A. Caplan (ed.),Sociobiology Debate, New York: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, J. D.: 1986, ‘Biology: A Necessary Limitless Vista’, in S. Rose & L. Appignanesi (eds.),Science and Beyond, Oxford & London: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Additional information

I wish to thank the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for having supported the work on this paper.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sesardić, N. Science and politics: Dangerous liaisons. Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Wissenschaftstheorie 23, 129–151 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01801799

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01801799

Key words

Navigation