[lbo-talk] Conversation with Derrida

Miles Jackson cqmv at pdx.edu
Thu Nov 5 09:34:28 PST 2009


Somebody Somebody wrote:
> Also, to me the issue isn't whether there is an intelligent critique of science. The more important question, frankly, is do we even need one? When it comes to applying or misapplying science, all that's required is an ethical framework to go along with the methodology. You don't need to know a thing about the Herbert Marcuse, Nazi philosophers, Karl Popper, or the Pope's latest encyclical.
>

An intelligent critique of science and an evaluation of how specific scientific technologies are applied are two different things. As you say, anybody can apply their ethical beliefs to evaluate a particular science-based technology ("The A-bomb sucks!" "The A-bomb rules!"). Intelligent and meaningful critiques of science aren't based on ethics. (Cue Foucault, Laqueur, Gould, Lewontin, et al.)

Miles



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