The inherent values of science and public health with Anya Plutynski

Anya, welcome to the podcast.

Thank you.

I'm happy to be here.

I want to get started directly with some of the discussions we were having as we were preparing for the podcast.

So you started the convening.

You were one of the few people who started us with talking about values and science.

I think some of your arguments were that values are not necessarily contaminant of science, but they are a deep ingrained component of how we do research.

And we should always take into that account.

And I had emailed you in preparations for this saying that, how do we think about politicizing science versus thinking about values in science? So what do you think about the discourse that we have right now when it comes to science and values? What can philosophy of science research that have been done throughout decades, centuries, actually tell us about this discussion?

Well, great question.

Big question.

Well, I think it might help by backing into this a little bit with I think sometimes people think if you incorporate values in science, you're not being objective.

And when we talk about objectivity, we could be referring to people, we can be referring to data results, or we could be referring to the process of science and the institutions and practices involved in that process.

And sometimes people assume that, well, OK, when values come into people, they're not being objective.

Right.

But there are lots of different kinds of values.

Right.

That might actually promote objectivity in the process of science.

So one value we might have is curiosity.

Right.

I'd like to learn something new or I like to be challenged or I'm interested in learning, you know, having my views challenged.

Right.

Right.

That would be a value of a person that might actually promote objectivity in the process of science.

Right.

Anya, welcome to the podcast.

Thank you.

I'm happy to be here.

I want to get started directly with some of the discussions we were having as we were preparing for the podcast.

So you started the convening.

You were one of the few people who started us with talking about values and science.

I think some of your arguments were that values are not necessarily contaminant of science, but they are a deep ingrained component of how we do research.

And we should always take into that account.

And I had emailed you in preparations for this saying that, how do we think about politicizing science versus thinking about values in science? So what do you think about the discourse that we have right now when it comes to science and values? What can philosophy of science research that have been done throughout decades, centuries, actually tell us about this discussion?

Well, great question.

Big question.

Well, I think it might help by backing into this a little bit with I think sometimes people think if you incorporate values in science, you're not being objective.

And when we talk about objectivity, we could be referring to people, we can be referring to data results, or we could be referring to the process of science and the institutions and practices involved in that process.

And sometimes people assume that, well, OK, when values come into people, they're not being objective.

Right.

But there are lots of different kinds of values.

Right.

That might actually promote objectivity in the process of science.

So one value we might have is curiosity.

Right.

I'd like to learn something new or I like to be challenged or I'm interested in learning, you know, having my views challenged.

Right.

Right.

That would be a value of a person that might actually promote objectivity in the process of science.

Right.