[A Sip of Books] What Should We Do When Scientific Information Is Uncertain?

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This book empirically demonstrates that, contrary to the traditional belief that 'science is value-neutral,' values influence every stage of scientific activity?from selecting research topics to design, execution, and evaluation. It first examines cases from various research fields including climate change, anthropology, chemical risk assessment, ecology, neurobiology, physiology and medicine, and agriculture. It then proposes ways to ensure that values in science are carefully and thoroughly reviewed and act in a desirable direction.

Launching a new drug requires enormous costs (hundreds of millions of dollars), and private companies clearly need to consider returns on investment. Even if many people suffer from a particular disease, if those patients do not have much money to spend on treatment, it is difficult to make a profit. Therefore, the private market is much more likely to research problems affecting wealthy countries. Even if those problems are trivial, like erectile dysfunction, heartburn, or hair loss, and the problems in low-income countries cause terrible suffering and death.

Faced with this obvious conflict between social service and the value of promoting objectivity, many scientists tend to carefully interpret available information and avoid controversial interpretations. Philosopher Carl Cranor calls this strategy the 'clean hands science, dirty hands public policy' approach. It reflects the scientific community's traditional tendency to prioritize objectivity. The clear strength of this strategy is that it allows scientists to maintain a reputation for providing reliable information. By avoiding controversial interpretations of available evidence, they can stick to claims everyone can agree on. However, this approach also has weaknesses. Perhaps the most obvious difficulty, as Cranor himself points out, is that it can confuse decision-makers and prevent them from making informed choices.

How should we accept the realization that the root of many modern societal debates about science lies in deeply ingrained values among people? This discovery can be a very valuable insight for scientists and policymakers trying to resolve such controversies. Efforts by scientists to communicate research results more persuasively are undoubtedly very desirable. However, if the true driving force behind many disputes is values, then resolving conflicts will require focusing more on addressing value disagreements rather than generating or delivering more persuasive science. For example, if most opposition to climate change comes from people concerned about the future of free-market capitalism, the best approach might be to find ways for companies to profit while moving toward low-carbon technologies. If climate change can be addressed through free-market technologies, most opposition to climate science will likely disappear.

What Are Values in Science | Kevin Elliott | Translated by Kim Hee-bong | Gimmyoung Publishing | 364 pages | 20,000 KRW

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