When science tries to free its methods from the influence of political and ethical values, it pursues a dangerous fantasy. Or so claimed Kevin C. Elliott in yesterday’s IAI article. Today, Jacob Stegenga argues that, on the contrary, scientists should always strive to keep their research free of all values. While many areas of science, from medical research to cosmology, are full of uncertainty and controversy, scientists can use the scientific method to gradually strip away their prejudices, and thereby uncover the best models and interpretations of evidence. Far from actively deploying their values in their research, as Elliott advocates, scientists should do all they can to keep their politics and ethics out of their research.

This is part 2 of a 2-part series. Read part 1 here.

The value-free ideal for science