The relationship between science and values has been a subject of controversy among philosophers and scientists. Among supporters of different hues of empiricism there is a general wariness concerning the effects of values on scientific research. This wariness is connected to the fear of subjectivism in the sense that scientific theories could become ideological. In its extreme form, logical positivists proposed that scientific theories must be verifiable on the basis of their empirical content. This was part of their rational image of science which tended to introduce a dichotomy between scientific discovery and values. Karl Popper supported the notion of the rational image of science but from a different perspective. Popper was also wary of the effects of values on scientific discovery. The problem with attempts to eliminate values from empirical science is that it fails to recognize that science is influenced by certain cultural values. These values are both normative and theoretical in nature. The objective of this paper is to show that there is a link between science and values. This paper adopted the method of critical analysis. The paper concluded that supporters of the rational model of science, such as Popper, were wrong to reject normative values while accepting theoretical values as part of scientific discovery.
Written by:
N. M. Anyim
Department of Philosophy
University of Uyo
E-mail: nwachukwuanyim@uniuyo.edu.ng
