In this blog post, we will look back at the concept of the value-neutrality of science and consider the ethical responsibilities and social roles that modern scientists should have.

 

Reconsidering the value-neutrality of science

The concept of the value-neutrality of science was first mentioned in the German sociologist Max Weber’s paper Objectivity in Social and Social Policy Recognition. This concept refers to the stance that scientific research should only study objective facts and exclude subjective value judgments. However, the Structure of Scientific Revolutions by the philosopher of science Thomas Samuel Kuhn argued that science cannot be separated from social values and historical contexts, and that it is a collaborative work of individual scientists’ value systems, personal experiences, and historical coincidences. This claim has led to much criticism of the concept of the value-neutrality of science, and many scientists now agree that science is no longer value-neutral.

 

Limitations of Value-Neutrality

The belief that science is objective and neutral was once considered the core of the independence and credibility of scientific research. However, there are significant limitations to this belief in value-neutrality. The history of science is not just the accumulation of facts, but also includes the process of knowledge development and accumulation in a social context. For example, in research on bioethics issues, topics such as genetic manipulation and bio-experimentation are not just technical issues, but also include philosophical and ethical questions about humans and life. If scientists simply claim “objectivity” and try to exclude ethical issues, it is difficult for the research to gain social trust. The development of science is driven by social demands and values, and the direction of research itself is determined by subjective judgment and social needs. In the end, scientific research is inevitably associated with value judgments.

 

Reconsidering the Value-Neutrality of Modern Science

Recognizing that science is no longer value-neutral in modern society, scientists argue that instead of trying to restore value-neutrality, they should make constant value judgments. In other words, science should make continuous value judgments in the research process and in the analysis of results, and the scientific community should pursue more advanced science through interaction rather than maintaining independence from the outside society. The claim that science should remain value-neutral is an anachronistic idea that ignores the complexity and interconnectedness of modern society, and may be an irresponsible attempt to avoid the social responsibility of scientists. Scientists must now go beyond philosophical contemplation of whether science is value-neutral and consider the practical social impact and the resulting responsibility. It is the role of modern scientists to consider the direction of research in a social context and make appropriate value judgments accordingly.

 

The need for value judgment and ethical responsibility

First of all, value judgment is essential in the process of scientific research and in the analysis of research results. Modern science deals with natural phenomena that are much more complex and extensive than those of the modern era, and it is necessary to assess the impact of these phenomena on humanity. The methods and results obtained in the research process require judgment that takes into account not only the success of the experiment but also the social impact. For example, in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) development, it is important to keep in mind that technological advances can lead to issues such as privacy violations and job losses, as well as positive aspects.
If, in a physics experiment, the experimenter conducts an experiment called “The Dynamics of Billiards,” and the total kinetic energy before and after the collision is found to decrease instead of being conserved, the data should not be accepted as true, but the accuracy and validity of the research should be re-examined. This is not just an experiment result, but a reminder of the need to reach the correct conclusion through value judgment. In this way, value judgments that consider the validity of the research process and research results are very important in modern science.

 

Modern science and ethical responsibility

In modern society, where the value neutrality of science is being reconsidered, scientists must deeply consider their ethical responsibilities. As the development of science no longer simply involves technological achievements but also directly or indirectly affects humanity and nature, scientists need to fulfill their social responsibilities. For example, the development of gene editing technology is likely to be useful for treating diseases, but the ethical issues and potential risks associated with genetic manipulation of human embryos cannot be ruled out. If scientists ignore these ethical responsibilities and try to conduct research from a value-neutral standpoint, the scientific achievements may have negative effects. Therefore, scientists should be aware of these ethical responsibilities in the research process and conduct research with ethical judgments taken into account.

 

Independence and social engagement of the scientific community

Scientists need to form close relationships with the outside society in consideration of the impact of scientific research on society. In order to maintain the value neutrality of science, the scientific community must abandon its independence from modern society, but must continue to reflect social values and demands. Considering that science and technology have become the driving force behind the expansion of capitalism and that scientific development is an important driving force of modern society, scientists must consider how their research and its results can create social value.
If scientists ignore the social context and focus only on research, this will not only reduce the social value and practical usefulness of research, but also lead to the isolation of the scientist community. It is essential for scientists to consider the social responsibility of their research and evaluate its value in order to develop scientific research and strengthen ties with society. Scientists should conduct research that interacts with modern society by making value judgments in the research process and methods.

 

Future Science Directions

Science and technology have become powerful tools in modern society. The future direction of science development should not only be technological progress, but also closely related to social values, and scientists should closely evaluate social benefits and potential risks through ethical judgment in the process. In an era where advanced science and technology in various fields, such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and environmental science, are directly changing the lives of people, the direction of science should be reorganized with the goal of ethical consideration and social contribution, rather than simply the exploration of objective facts.
To achieve this direction, scientists should pursue research that improves the quality of human life and achieves social harmony, rather than pursuing value neutrality as an absolute ideal. To solve the complex problems facing modern society, scientists need to take on the responsibility of making value judgments from multiple perspectives and ethical responsibilities.

 

Conclusion

The value neutrality of science is a concept that can no longer be maintained in modern society. Scientists must constantly make value judgments in the research process and in the analysis of results, and they must develop science through close interaction with modern society. Anachronistic claims to maintain value neutrality are nothing more than irresponsible claims to avoid the social role of scientists, and scientists must fulfill their social responsibility for research and contribute to humanity and society through ethical judgment. Now is the time for scientists to think about the value of the impact their research will have on humanity and society, rather than worrying about whether science is value neutral, and to open up new horizons for modern science through responsible research and development.