| Front | Back | | --- | --- | | What is the value-free ideal in science, and what are its two legitimate guiding criteria? | The view that science should be free from moral, social, or political values. Its only legitimate criteria are empirical adequacy (matching evidence) and logical consistency. | | Why did the logical positivists of the Vienna Circle argue that value-laden claims must be excluded from science? | They held that only empirically verifiable statements have genuine meaning, which leaves no room for value judgements in scientific discourse. | | How did Thomas Kuhn challenge the value-free ideal using the concept of paradigms? | He argued that choosing between scientific paradigms is not purely logical, but requires weighing values like simplicity, fruitfulness, and explanatory scope. | | Contrast constitutive values and contextual values in science according to Helen Longino. |

Constitutive values: standards internal to science that define good practice (e.g., accuracy, simplicity).
Contextual values: external social, moral, or political values from the broader culture.

| | Why does Helen Longino argue that contextual values inevitably shape scientific practice? | Because scientific experiments rely on background assumptions to interpret data, and these assumptions are shaped by the wider social and cultural context. | | How does Helen Longino argue that scientific objectivity can be preserved despite the influence of contextual values? | Objectivity is a social achievement secured when a diverse scientific community subjects background assumptions to open, critical scrutiny. | | Distinguish between impartiality and neutrality in the context of scientific inquiry. |

Impartiality: conclusions are determined by evidence rather than personal or group bias.
Neutrality: research results do not systematically favor or disadvantage any particular social group or political agenda.

| | State one major objection to the claim that scientific research is genuinely impartial. | The decision of which questions to investigate is driven by external funding priorities, commercial interests, and cultural biases rather than pure evidence. | | What is Hugh Lacey's concept of decontextualized science, and why does he argue it is value-laden? | It is the study of phenomena in isolation (reductive explanation). It is value-laden because it systematically favors profitable, scalable technological solutions over local, ecological ones. | | How does Hugh Lacey use agriculture to illustrate the value-laden nature of scientific approaches? | He contrasts industrial agriculture (decontextualized, commercial science) with agroecology (contextualized, sustainability-focused science), showing the choice between them is driven by social values. | | What is Heather Douglas's argument regarding the moral responsibility of scientists when accepting hypotheses? | Scientists must make value judgements to weigh the social consequences of error (false alarms vs. missed dangers) when setting their evidence thresholds. | | How does Heather Douglas use toxicology to illustrate the necessity of value judgements in science? | Setting the evidence threshold for a chemical's safety requires balancing the public health risk of exposure against the economic cost of an unnecessary ban. | | Explain the tension between scientific autonomy and public accountability. |

Autonomy: scientists should set research agendas free from external interference to avoid distortion.
Accountability: because science is publicly funded and impacts society, the public has a right to shape its priorities.

| | How does the historical case of Lysenkoism in the Soviet Union support the argument for scientific autonomy? | It shows how political interference (Stalinist ideology suppressing Mendelian genetics) can corrupt scientific truth and lead to disastrous real-world consequences. | | How does Philip Kitcher's model of well-ordered science attempt to reconcile autonomy and accountability? | He proposes that decisions about which research agendas to fund should be made through open, democratic discussion involving both citizens and experts. | | Helen Longino argues that scientific objectivity is a social achievement preserved through critical scrutiny within a diverse scientific community. | Helen Longino argues that scientific objectivity is a social achievement preserved through critical scrutiny within a diverse scientific community. | | Hugh Lacey contrasts decontextualized science, such as industrial agriculture, with contextualized approaches like agroecology to show how scientific preferences are value-laden. | Hugh Lacey contrasts decontextualized science, such as industrial agriculture, with contextualized approaches like agroecology to show how scientific preferences are value-laden. | | According to Heather Douglas, scientists must consider the social consequences of error when deciding how much evidence is sufficient to accept a claim. | According to Heather Douglas, scientists must consider the social consequences of error when deciding how much evidence is sufficient to accept a claim. | | The principle of scientific autonomy asserts that scientists should set their own agendas, while accountability demands public oversight because of the social impact of research. | The principle of scientific autonomy asserts that scientists should set their own agendas, while accountability demands public oversight because of the social impact of research. |

IB Philosophy 6.3.1 Science and Values Flashcards

1. Being human6 subtopics

2. Aesthetics3 subtopics

3. Epistemology3 subtopics

4. Ethics3 subtopics

5. Philosophy of religion3 subtopics

6. Philosophy of science3 subtopics

7. Political philosophy3 subtopics

8. Social philosophy3 subtopics

9. HL extension: Philosophy and contemporary issues3 subtopics

10. Prescribed philosophical texts12 subtopics