Abstract

The value-laden nature of scientific information suggests that when such information influences democratic decision making, the embedded social values do as well. This creates a problem when deploying science within decision making in a democracy: the people or their representatives should determine which values guide decision making, not scientists. Value laden scientific information can therefore undermine the legitimacy of democratic decisions. Philosophers of science have only recently begun to take this problem of legitimacy seriously.

This talk will explore this emerging area of 'political philosophy of science' with a particular focus on the political legitimacy of value-laden scientific information within decision making. I will present the inaptly named 'democratic alignment view' and attempt to defend it against recent challenges. These challenges claim that the view does a poor job of accommodating value-plurality and would further marginalise minority views. I argue that the democratic alignment view has the resources to meet these challenges, and there are significant benefits to retaining it.