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Single Idea 22362

[filed under theme 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 5. Objectivity ]

Full Idea

Three components of value-free science are Impartiality (appraising theories only by epistemic scientific standards), Neutrality (the theories make no value statements), and Autonomy (the theory is motivated only by science).

Gist of Idea

Value-free science needs impartial evaluation, theories asserting facts, and right motivation

Source

Reiss,J/Spreger,J (Scientific Objectivity [2014], 3.3)

Book Ref

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.13


A Reaction

[They are summarising Hugh Lacey, 1999, 2002] I'm not sure why the third criterion matters, if the first two are met. If a tobacco company commissions research on cigarettes, that doesn't necessarily make the findings false or prejudiced.


The 8 ideas from 'Scientific Objectivity'

One view says objectivity is making a successful claim which captures the facts [Reiss/Sprenger]
An absolute scientific picture of reality must not involve sense experience, which is perspectival [Reiss/Sprenger]
The 'experimenter's regress' says success needs reliability, which is only tested by success [Reiss/Sprenger]
Topic and application involve values, but can evidence and theory choice avoid them? [Reiss/Sprenger]
The Value-Free Ideal in science avoids contextual values, but embraces epistemic values [Reiss/Sprenger]
Value-free science needs impartial evaluation, theories asserting facts, and right motivation [Reiss/Sprenger]
Thermometers depend on the substance used, and none of them are perfect [Reiss/Sprenger]
The Bayesian approach is explicitly subjective about probabilities [Reiss/Sprenger]