| COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES |
 |
PHILOSOPHY HOME PAGE |
|
COLLOQUIUM CALENDAR |
|
COLLOQUIA & CONFERENCES
Kevin Elliott Louisiana State University January 21, 2005 Monday, 4:00pm-6:00pm Nursing 127 Scientific anomalies often play an important role in environmental controversies. For example, opponents of a particular environmental policy can dismiss anomalies that appear to support that policy by labeling them as instances of 'junk science' whereas supporters of the same policy can respond by appealing to the 'precautionary principle'. This paper aims to develop a more sophisticated understanding of scientific anomaly and to explore some of its implications for environmental ethics and policy. It develops three main claims based on a case study of an anomalous phenomenon known as 'hormesis' (i.e., beneficial biological effects caused by low doses of chemicals that cause toxic effects at higher doses). First, the hormesis case appears to support a novel account of scientific anomaly that emphasizes the potential for anomalies to be characterized in multiple ways. Second, this account suggests that environmental researchers have ethical 'disclosure responsibilities' concerning the way they reveal information about policy-relevant anomalies to the public or its representatives. Third, the account supports institutional policies that promote analytic-deliberative processes for addressing policy-relevant anomalies.  |
|
Last updated 11/6/08 11:10 PM
•
burke@sc.edu
|
© 2006 University of South Carolina Board of Trustees |