Is science value neutral or not? This is the fundamental issue which this presentation discusses. It defines the term value neutral and then discusses points in support of science as value neutral and also presents the ground on which it may not be value free. We cannot mention value neutral without referring to the term value judgment. Value judgment can be taken to signifying the need for judgment which must be taken into consideration of a value system or in disparaging sense. Generally, the term value judgment refers to an individual’s opinion.
As matter of fact, individual’s opinion to a certain degree is dependent on person’s belief system and the culture to which he or she belong. Therefore, a value neutral in this context then refers to related adjective that suggest independence from a value system. True objectivity is almost impossible due to that fact even in the most rigorous rational analysis has on it some set of values that have been accepted in the course of analysis (http://www.answers.com/topic/value-judgment, para. 1).
In science, the explicit teaching of values is rare because they have been perceived to prevent inquiry. Values are considered to be biased by keeping people from being open minded. Inquiries such as observation, comparing, organization, relating and applying are skills all meant to be value free. Science is value neutral because it can be put to good or bad uses by either good or bad people. However, the neutrality of science may be modifiable not only by moral or ethical but also by ontological, epistemological, religious and political aspects.
When considering value neutrality in science, a distinction between the antecedent values that motivate the realization of science and technology and the value that science and technology have once realized is of key importance. Often there are claims on neutrality and antecedent values on value judgment that seem to motivate scientific and technology activity. Science can be said to be neutral in regard to a set of values when its processes and products are not informed by those values. Once claims on science and technology are realized, focus is usually on the consequences of their activity and the value of those consequences.
Therefore, neutralism assertion on the scientific activities just creates possibilities but do not necessarily cause any possibilities to be realized. For any of the possibilities to be actualized, other events beyond science such as investigation of the phenomena and creation of specific objects are needed of which they are not required or determined by science and technology. In this light then, the value neutral of science and technology is viewed to be a product of their causal neutrality because they are not sufficient in themselves to bring either good or bad consequences. Thus, neutrality of science is considered to be claim that science is value free.
Science entails impartial search of truth regardless of the interest of those affected. The main guiding fundamental presupposition is that the world is independent of how human beings may want it to be.
Contrary, natural order is not determined by human interest, science unlike natural order, it is influenced by human interest because people are interested with expression of their values. This makes science just like any other human activity to be driven and influenced by human values. But for the idea that science is value neutral to be supported two categories of antecedent values must be considered. First there are external or contextual values that direct scientific work such as economic, political and cultural interest. Second, there are internal or constructive values that direct science (Stevenson & Byerly, pp 45).
Such most fundamental internal values are truth and demonstration. For science to be value neutral, though some external values exert influence and may play a role in determining the problems when scientists begin their work, these external values should have no role in guiding procedure or determining the findings. Internal values should play dominant role by guiding the application of methods, the determination of results and reporting. Otherwise, if external values take dominance, the value neutral of science may cease to be there.
Work Cited:
Stevenson, Leslie & Byerly, Henry; The Many Faces of Science: An Introduction to Scientists, Values, and Society. ISBN 0813365511, 9780813365510, Westview Press, 2000
Neutrality in Science and Technology; Retrieved on 15th February 2009 from:http://www.bookrags.com/research/neutrality-in-science-and-technolog-este 0001_0003_0/, 2006
