Constitutive values are internal standards for judging scientific knowledge, whereas contextual values come from the social, cultural, ethical, or political setting of inquiry. Helen Longino argues that contextual values cannot be eliminated completely; objectivity therefore depends on effective critical scrutiny rather than a supposedly value-free method.
The Distinction
| Type of value | Meaning | Role in science |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutive values | Internal standards, including empirical adequacy, consistency, accuracy, explanatory power, and simplicity | Assess hypotheses, models, and theories |
| Contextual values | Social or cultural commitments, including justice, economic interests, environmental priorities, and assumptions about gender | Shape research questions, funding, methods, background assumptions, and interpretations |
Accuracy is constitutive because a theory should fit relevant observations. By contrast, funding renewable-energy research may express the contextual value of environmental responsibility.
Longino's critical contextual empiricism challenges the value-free ideal. Evidence does not determine a theory by itself: scientists interpret it through background assumptions, which may contain contextual values. In research on human behaviour, for example, assumptions about gender can affect data collection and explanations.
This does not make science merely subjective. Longino argues that objectivity is socially produced through transformative criticism: researchers with diverse perspectives publicly challenge methods, assumptions, and interpretations. Criticism must be taken seriously, shared standards must exist, and intellectual authority must be distributed appropriately.
A common misconception is that constitutive values are objective while contextual values automatically corrupt science. Longino's claim is subtler: contextual values can improve inquiry by exposing biased assumptions.
Exam Technique
In an IB Philosophy response, define both terms, give one example of each, and explain how background assumptions connect evidence to conclusions. For evaluation, assess whether Longino successfully replaces value-free science with socially achieved objectivity, rather than suggesting that all scientific views are equally valid. This directly links knowledge production to science and society.
