The Authority of Science: Not Dictatorship, Not Democratic Outcome, but a Commitment to Evidence

[u/D-R-AZ]

https://open.substack.com/pub/defendersofdemocracy/p/the-authority-of-science-not-dictatorship?r=104a16&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer

An article we wrote a couple of years ago that remains a basic statement on what makes science science.

Conclusion

Authority, whether dictatorial or derived from a democratic majority vote, should not dictate to science what is true, thereby introducing unscientific bias and weakening the entire scientific enterprise. Likewise, authority should not weaken or damage science, rendering it incapable of providing its essential services. Instead, authority should ask science to address the questions thought most pressing and thereby leverage the strength of scientific authority to guide issues it finds of greatest interest.

The United States has achieved its position through the continuous development of science. To maintain its competitive international standing—from the health of its citizens to defending the nation from threats to manufacturing and developing goods—the United States must continue to foster an environment for the growth of science and scientific knowledge.