Article ID: CBB001220690

Science and Public Controversy: Editor's Introduction (2011)

unapi

Forbes, Curtis (Author)


Spontaneous Generations
Volume: 5
Pages: 1--4


Publication Date: 2011
Edition Details: Introduction to a special section, “Science and Public Controversy”
Language: English

Scientific claims implicitly invite criticism. While we might expect that challenging an epistemic authority in religious circles would be seen as an illegitimate activity (e.g. heresy) and met with suppression, challenging an epistemic authority in scientific circles is supposed to be a legitimate form of engagement, and should (ideally) be met with reasoned argument based in empirical evidence. Given this implicit invitation to challenge scientific claims, and the sweeping knowledge claims often made by today's scientists, it is hardly surprising that people outside narrowly defined scientific communities (i.e. science's public) often challenge the truth of scientific consensuses. The scrutiny of scientific claims by non-scientist members of the public is quite understandable and in many ways unobjectionable, given the role that science advice increasingly plays in our society's governance structures and public policy making. As scientists increasingly play policy-maker, they become doubly subject to public criticism: first as a scientist making substantive claims about reality and second as public-interest decision-maker making important decisions about public policy. Thus, for the scientist's social role as epistemic authority to remain justified, public criticism of science should ideally be entertained and answered by practicing scientists.

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Description Contents:


Includes Series Articles

Article Lightman, Bernard (2011) Periodicals and Controversy. Spontaneous Generations (p. 5). unapi

Article Ranalli, Brent Tibor (2011) A Prehistory of Peer Review: Religious Blueprints from the Hartlib Circle. Spontaneous Generations (p. 12). unapi

Article Keller, Evelyn Fox (2011) What Are Climate Scientists to Do?. Spontaneous Generations (p. 19). unapi

Article Maienschein, Jane (2011) Why Do Stem Cells Create Such Public Controversy?. Spontaneous Generations (p. 27). unapi

Article Varughese, Shiju Sam (2011) Media and Science in Disaster Contexts: Deliberations on Earthquakes in the Regional Press in Kerala, India. Spontaneous Generations (p. 36). unapi

Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB001220690/

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Authors & Contributors
Noah Morritt
Mitchell Kiefer
Ghislaine Filliatreau
Liz Sevcenko
Howell, Emily L.
Helene Sorgner
Concepts
Authority of science
Public understanding of science
Science and society
Controversies and disputes
Mass media
Authorities; experts
Time Periods
21st century
20th century
19th century
20th century, early
20th century, late
Modern
Places
United States
Great Britain
Germany
Canada
India
Institutions
Carnegie Museum of Natural History (Pittsburgh)
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