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Science, democracy, and the right to research
1Department of Government, California State University Sacramento, Sacramento, CA,95819-6089, USA. mark.brown@csus.edu
Science and Engineering Ethics
|May 13, 2009
Summary
Scientists should have a right to research, but this right is best understood as a claim to civic membership. This perspective emphasizes public deliberation on which scientific inquiries merit societal support.
Area of Science:
- Political Science
- Philosophy of Science
- Sociology of Science
Background:
- The politicization of science has spurred discussions on a
- right to research
- for scientists.
Observation:
- This article explores the political implications of the right to research by contrasting liberal and republican conceptions of rights.
- Liberal rights protect against interference, while republican rights emphasize civic membership.
Findings:
- Adopting a republican framework, the right to research is viewed as integrating science within society, not isolating it.
- A universal right to free inquiry for all citizens is proposed, though it may not extend to all forms of scientific research.
- The protection of rights is contingent on their integration within democratic culture and institutions.
Implications:
- Claims for a right to research should be evaluated based on their contribution to democratic values.
- Understanding the right to research within its social context reframes it from a guarantee of support to a catalyst for public debate.
- This perspective encourages public deliberation on the societal value and justification of scientific research endeavors.
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