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 Outline on  Weber on Values in Science
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  See Also: An Overview of Weber  
  Max Weber originated idea of value-free science, but even he knew it was impossible to accomplish  
  Weber held that Science cannot decide value issues
 
  For Weber, the clarity of issues is all that science can offer us
 
  Science can provide us w/ means but not ends
 
  Science can never show the way to true values
 
  A conflict of values is inevitable
 
  Values can never be arranged through science, or otherwise, into one universal scale
 
  Weber demonstrated that it is difficult not to use Science to determine values
     because Science offers insight:
 
       - into the nature of human actions  
      - into the meaning of certain goals
 
      - into the means of attaining goals
 
      - into the costs & consequences for those goals & goals not pursued
 
  Weber was one of the first people to maintain 
     that the Sciences should try to minimize values in research
 
  For most of the public AND many scientists (social & natural), there is assumption that science is neutral, i.e. value free
 
  But we must realize that value free science is a noble, but relatively unattainable goal
 
  Science often assumes a particular set of values
 
  Values are personal judgments or preferences about what is considered good or bad, or about what is liked or disliked
 
  Values & Theory overlap because many of our value judgments are unproven "personal theories" however, this should not lead us to the belief that scientific theories can prove values
 
  Values, unlike scientific theory, can never be proven
 
  If we have a question of values, that should be resolved by the political process, the religious process, etc.
 
  Questions of science can be resolved, questions of values cannot  
  It is difficult to separate values & science on many issues
    - abortion
    - death penalty
    - pollution
    - unemployment policy....		  
  What are the questions of values & science here or in other issues?   
  A Value Loaded Statement is one that purports to be neutral but has value statements  
Link
 Examples of loaded statements  
  How do values enter into research?  
  Weber proposed value free science, though he understood that this is an impossible goal, it is something to be striven for  
  Today science has established a mantle of objectivity:  "science is value free"  
  Values enter the scientific process through FIVE Avenues  
  a. Who are you working for?      Sponsors have "interests"  
  b. What perspective/paradigm are you researching from?     (most difficult to account for)  
  Perspective/Paradigm:  different fields of science work w/in different theoretical frameworks:  based on a set of different theories/models  (Sociology:  conflict, S-F, S-I;     Weather:  computer models, lab experiments)  
  c. What question are you exploring?   Hypothesis formulation   (How do you state the problem?)  
  Values enter in hypothesis formulation: the answer is given by science is dependent on questions asked  
  Solution:  Ask different questions     Use different methods  
  d. Generalization/Interpretation:  often strong disagreement over interpretation  
  e. Bad science is made up of Hoaxes & Faulty Research, not unsupported hypotheses
Hoaxes:  very limited amount of fake science
Faulty:  limited amount of mistakes, but many false leads		  
  Scientific Method attempts to mitigate effect of values by making research process visible to all:  organized skepticism  
  Methods & Conclusions  
  Values usually don't enter in the application/methods of the study  
  Values legitimately are relegated to conclusions  
  See:  Epistemology & the Antidotes to Bias  
  a. Antidote:  Question Knowledge: no blind faith in science:  Keep on Questioning   "Question Authority"  
  b. Antidote: Ask, "Who benefits from a given bit of knowledge?"  
  c. Antidote:  Ask:  "Who controls / creates that knowledge?"  

The End