Science and the public self

Technology in Society
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Abstract

Scientists employed by agencies of the US government (and by extension, those working at universities who are recipients of federal grants) have distinctive responsibilities to the community that supports their work. Traditionally, such public scientists retreated behind a veil of objectivity thought to define scientific knowledge. But this approach today fails on both epistemological and political grounds. Most striking is the fact that the very stance of principled distance from societal debates has opened the scientist to charges of irrelevance. What is the distinctive role of federal science agencies in society? Is there a way out of the dilemma in which government scientists are seen as irrelevant, or if relevant, biased? It is argued here that the notion of a public self offers a means out of this dilemma. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Science and the public self
Series title Technology in Society
DOI 10.1016/S0160-791X(00)00019-1
Volume 22
Issue 3
Year Published 2000
Language English
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Technology in Society
First page 341
Last page 352
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