Abstract
This paper analyses the relationship between scientific knowledge and the societies in which it is produced. After considering the diverse societal roles science has performed in different types of society, the discussion focuses on science’s role in democratic and pluralistic societies. Opposite to the increasing instrumental role knowledge production plays nowadays, for which it has been named «post-academic science» or «technoscience», non instrumental roles of traditional academic research are defended. It is argued that only if academic science keeps its autonomy and integrity from political and corporate interests, it may serve civil society by offering impartial and trustworthy knowledge to balance biases produced by the features of post-academic science.
Highlights
This paper analyses the relationship between scientific knowledge and the societies in which it is produced
After considering the diverse societal roles science has performed in different types of society, the discussion focuses on science’s role in democratic and pluralistic societies
It is argued that only if academic science keeps its autonomy and integrity from political and corporate interests, it may serve civil society by offering impartial and trustworthy knowledge to balance biases produced by the features of post-academic science
Summary
En este artículo se analizan las relaciones del conocimiento científico con las sociedades en las que se produce. Tras repasar sus diversas funciones en tipos distintos de sociedades, la discusión se centra en los fines de la ciencia en las sociedades democráticas pluralistas. Frente al cada vez mayor rol instrumental de la ciencia, por el que ha recibido los nombres de «ciencia postacadémica» o «tecnociencia», se defienden los roles no instrumentales tradicionales de la investigación académica clásica. Se argumenta que sólo si la ciencia académica mantiene su autonomía y su integridad frente a intereses políticos o empresariales podrá ser de utilidad al público al ofrecerle conocimiento imparcial y fidedigno frente a los sesgos producidos por la naturaleza propia de la ciencia postacadémica
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