1. Inductive risk and the contexts of communication
- Author
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Stephen John, John, Stephen [0000-0002-1062-0188], and Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository
- Subjects
Value (ethics) ,Philosophy of science ,Social epistemology ,Philosophy ,5003 Philosophy ,General Social Sciences ,Metaphysics ,Sect ,5002 History and Philosophy Of Specific Fields ,Ideal (ethics) ,Epistemology ,Philosophy of language ,50 Philosophy and Religious Studies ,Argument - Abstract
In recent years, the argument from inductive risk against value free science has enjoyed a revival. This paper investigates and clarifies this argument through means of a case-study: neonicitinoid research. Sect. 1 argues that the argument from inductive risk is best conceptualised as a claim about scientists’ communicative obligations. Sect. 2 then shows why this argument is inapplicable to “public communication”. Sect. 3 outlines non-epistemic reasons why non-epistemic values should not play a role in public communicative contexts. Sect. 4 analyses the implications of these arguments both for the specific case of neonicitinoid research and for understanding the limits of the argument from inductive risk. Sect. 5 sketches the broader implications of my claims for understanding the “Value Free Ideal” for science.
- Published
- 2015