Dialogue Between the Disciplines Is Thriving

OPINION NATURE|Vol 458|9 April 2009 CORRESPONDENCE The letters below respond to the Essay ‘We cannot live by scepticism alone’ by Harry Collins (Nature 458, 30–31; 2009). Let’s not reignite research centre alongside authoritarianism is what we credit the fruitful cooperation historians and sociologists of need to tackle climate change. between scientists and social an unproductive biology and medicine, we can Second, Collins recognizes that scientists that is a long- controversy assure Collins that post-modern science is fallible and its findings established reality in many science sceptics are thin on the ‘do not lead straight to political universities and networks SIR — Far from being dominated ground. The ‘science wars’ of the conclusions’. So where does such worldwide. (Last year’s joint by scepticism about science, as 1990s were whipped up by a uncertainty leave policy-making? EU–US Science and Technology Harry Collins claims, mainstream selective focus on the work of a How do Collins’s scientific values Studies conference in Rotterdam, philosophy of science opposes the very few scholars, many of whom help us in tackling difficult issues the Netherlands, called ‘Acting relativism that Collins decries. We did not work in the philosophy, such as climate change or with Science, Technology and are both philosophers of biology, a history or sociology of science. Let genetically modified crops? Medicine’, is one example.) field that analyses key biological us hope that Collins’s remarks do Classifying different types of In this sense, talk of a “third concepts such as species and not reignite this unproductive expertise is a worthy start, but wave” that will be “resisted” by genes, dissects theoretical debates controversy. we are still left with two further “post-modernists” is surprising. in biology and examines emerging John Dupré Economic and Social problems. First, who decides what This is not how most sociologists fields such as systems biology. Research Council Centre for Genomics expertise is legitimate in different think about the natural sciences: This work often involves criticism in Society (Egenis), University of situations? Second, how do we the field is already filled with of scientific positions. But if any Exeter, Byrne House, St German’s translate such expertise into scholars who are engaging of it is part of Collins’s sceptical Road, Exeter EX4 4PJ, UK action? In the rough and tumble scientists in conversation, ‘second wave’ of science studies, e-mail: [email protected] of political processes, there is collaboration and — yes — Richard Dawkins is a bishop. Paul E. Griffiths Sydney Centre for the frequently no clear judge. Custom mutual critique, without Collins dismisses philosophy of Foundations of Science, A14 University and power relationships usually resorting to the cliché version science as a ‘first wave of science of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia, decide whose expertise is heard. of post-modernism depicted studies’ largely coinciding with and Egenis Without a theoretically based and by Collins. With backgrounds post-war confidence in science politically supported manifesto to ranging from sociology to and superseded by the work address these problems, a call for molecular biology, all of those of sociologists of knowledge like What does applying scientific values to ‘run our lives’ signing this letter are committed himself. In fact, mainstream risks giving too much power to to continuing and developing philosophy of science — which ‘scientific values’ certain forms of knowledge. this dialogue. was being developed before the mean in reality? Mike Hulme, John Turnpenny School of Giovanni Frazzetto on behalf of 16 Second World War by Rudolph Environmental Sciences, University of co-authors* BIOS, London School of Carnap, Carl Hempel, Karl Popper, SIR — Harry Collins calls for East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK Economics, Houghton Street Hans Reichenbach and others — scientists to become ‘moral e-mail: [email protected] London WC2A 2AE, UK remains a thriving discipline in leaders’ and says that the e-mail: [email protected] most universities. It teaches ‘values of science’ can help us *See supplementary information students that science is neither run our social and political lives. Dialogue between for full author list the ‘voice of a God’ nor merely the However, the argument raises at view of one social group, just as least two questions. the disciplines is Collins advocates. First, what does applying thriving Widen the channels The only contemporary ‘scientific values’ mean in the ‘philosopher’ Collins mentions real world, beyond observation, SIR — As an interdisciplinary of communication (though not by name) is Steve theorization, experimentation and group of scholars, committed to with society Fuller, whose statement to a US ‘open debate among those with the social studies of science and court that intelligent design is experience’? If scientific values engaged in a series of productive SIR — After two abortive science Collins uses as evidence recognize plurality of perspective, dialogues with colleagues in the attempts, are social scientists that post-modern scepticism freedom of expression and life sciences, we were taken aback finally beginning to get a grip on pervades science studies. political negotiation beyond the to be branded as “overly cynical” the meaning and value of science? However, Fuller is a professor of alliances of the powerful, they towards science by Harry Collins. Harry Collins says yes. But sociology. All the philosophers would fit with the values of a Contrary to Collins’s view, although he correctly identifies of science who, like Fuller, were liberal democracy. But the banner hardly anyone in science studies the need for science to take its witnesses or advisers in the of ‘scientific values’ could equally rejects the values of science and proper place in informing good Dover Area School District case be raised by an authoritarian expertise. We find it striking government, he seems to do so (see Nature 439, 6–7; 2006) technocracy, in which tacit that he does not provide a single in spite of his misapprehensions appeared for the other side, and indigenous knowledge is specific example of the scepticism about scientists and the scientific supporting evolution. marginalized. For example, he is talking about. enterprise. In an Essay loaded Working in an interdisciplinary some powerful people say that Collins does not adequately with sweeping statements and 702 © 2009 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.

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