The role of moral philosophy in the divide between science and non-science
ResourcesThe role of moral philosophy in the divide between science and non-science
What is this about?
This is a factual case that examines the role of moral values in the distinction between science and non-science. The article details a recent (at the time of writing) case of scientific misconduct to show the differences in moral philosophy as applied to science and as applied to non-scientific practices. The publication further elaborates upon these differences and whether they might be used to distinguish between science and non-science.
Why is this important?
Although there is much legislation and debate about science, its distinction from non-science is blurred. The article concludes that science is treated specially by moral philosophy, as cases of scientific misconduct are treated differently than cases of misbehaviour in other fields. Therefore, moral philosophy may play an interesting role in distinguishing non-science from science and may have consequences for the legislation on scientific research and the handling of cases of misconduct. Accordingly, it would be interesting to examine the exact role of moral philosophy in the distinction between science and non-science. Although definitively answering this question is beyond the scope of this article, asking this may be an important step towards a conclusion on this subject.
