Rebuilding public trust in science
September 03, 2024 10:58 Source: "Chinese Social Sciences Journal" Issue 2969, September 3, 2024 Author: Wang Junmei

Soazig Le Bihan, a professor of philosophy at the University of Montana, recently wrote an article on the "Dialogue" website,Although global public trust in scientific research has been relatively high for decades,But trust is now starting to show a downward trend。Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a lot of conflicting “scientific information”,Reduced people’s trust in science。Bihan thinks,You can start from multiple angles,Helping people better understand how the scientific research process works,To restore public trust in science。

Bihan said,Scientific research involves many Bet365 lotto review aspects。First,Scientific research is a complex process involving multiple goals and related activities。On an issue,Beyond the "what" and "why",Scientists also focus on “how to do it”。For example,Although current medicine cannot decipher the real causes of some chronic diseases,But research on disease management strategies can still improve the lives of these patients。Some simplistic view would be that,Science only focuses on providing causal explanations for various phenomena in the world。Actually,Scientists need to deal with a variety of problems,And seek to solve these problems through different strategies and methods,Rather than just providing a comprehensive analysis。

Secondly,Complex problems require complex solutions。Because scientists often face complex problems,bet365 live casino games They usually do not provide a unique and complete answer,But will consider all kinds、Solutions that have their own effects and even conflict with each other。Scientific modeling strategy reflects this well。Scientific models are usually partial、Simplified,At the same time, the target system can be demonstrated in an effective way in the specific investigation environment。Weigh the pros and cons of potential solutions to a problem,Is an important part of the scientific research process。Interesting thing,In some cases,Compared to trying to unify all models into one model,Using multiple conflicting models can lead to better predictions。

When scientists offer multiple models based on conflicting assumptions and make different predictions,The public may be surprised or even suspicious。People often think,“Real science” bet365 Play online games should provide clarity、Complete and foolproof answer。But,Taking into account the various constraints and complexity of the world,Bringing multiple perspectives together is often the best way for scientists to achieve their goals and solve problems。

 Finally,Scientific research is a collective effort involving different opinions。In some romanticized imaginations about science,Scientists work independently and establish absolute truth。In fact,Scientific research is a social process that ensures that people can have the "best available" knowledge under current conditions,But this does not mean generating absolute truth。Science allows for disagreements among scientists,The process of debate is precisely the core of science’s important role。

Scientific research is also a collective process bet365 live casino games prone to error,Ignoring the reality of this process and holding science to unrealistic standards,May lead the public to question scientific research for the wrong reasons,And lose trust in its reliability。Bihan thinks,Although people need to take more care when assessing the credibility of specific scientific claims and recommendations,But,It can be unfair and even dangerous to cast doubt on scientific research efforts。Because,Scientific research often focuses on solving complex problems for which simple solutions do not exist,Requires joint efforts from many parties。In the process,Expert groups will carefully review potential solutions,Hope to be able to come up with the best solution to the problem。

(Wang Junmei/Compiled)

Editor: Cui Bohan
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