Mikey Brass wrote:
"Then lets take this silly argument to its post-modernist extreme (which
it is nearly at) and state all reporting, including journal articles, is
political and therefore what we are dealing in is politics and not
science."
Is it so controversial to say that defending "science", or indeed seeing
"science" as having a position worth defending, is in lots of important
ways, political? (My inverted commas are because I'm not convinced there
is a single scientific view to promulgate, not because I doubt the value
of science)
That's not to say that all journal articles are necessarily political -
although to understand why articles appear, how the work was funded, why
the work is considered important enough to publish, all these are
questions at least informed by political concerns. As someone said
earlier, politics isn't a dirty word. Saying things are political is not
to say that they aren't worth engaging in.
For my part. Regarding SMC and Sense About Science, I worry that the
idea that the public is increasingly "anti-science" can make those who
attempt to defend science overly defensive, and often can reinforce the
distrust that some members of the public have in some scientists.
There has certainly been a great deal of heat generated in this debate -
its certainly filled my inbox for a day or so!
John Baxter, Science Staff Tutor.
The Open University in the North West.
351 Altrincham Road, Sharston, Manchester M22 4UN.
Tel 0161 955 6914 Fax:0161 945 3356
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