Skepticism About Government Engaging in Science
Can a government do science? Is a ‘government scientist’ possible?
The answer depends on the definition of ‘scientist,’ which in turn depends on the definition of ‘science’ – which is no easy task, given the demarcation problem. But suppose that science is essentially a matter of pursuing truth about the natural world, and that such truth is taken as an end in itself rather than merely as a means to some other end. On this view, a scientist is one who seeks such truth for its own sake.
Government is not in the ‘truth for its own sake’ business. The purposes of government include maintaining law and order, securing its borders, protecting its people and way of life, sustaining and perhaps extending its power, safeguarding its future, etc. A government might seek truth, but likely only as a means to achieve some other end. Even supposedly independent federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health do not seek truth for its own sake and only (or even primarily) that.
Hence, given our assumption, if someone works as a government ‘scientist’ (or in any other academic discipline which pursues truth), that person qua government officer is at best practicing science-like research. Whatever truth comes out of this research is generally not sought for its own sake (at least as far as the government is concerned, although the researcher might privately seek the truth for its own sake). Rather, the research is treated instrumentally for the sake of acquiring some other end.
Moreover, the government officer, even if practicing science-like activity, is responsible for meeting the duties of his office. Thus, if his duties require that he relinquish his search for truth in favor of some other goal, then that is what he will do since he is getting paid to do what the government requires of him.
In short, since government ‘science’ does not seek truth for its own sake, it is not genuine science – given the assumption that science is essentially a matter of pursuing truth for its own sake.
And yet we ought to question this assumption. Is science is essentially a matter of pursuing truth for its own sake?
That’s a question for another post.