Abstract

In Science in a Democratic Society (2011), Philip Kitcher argued that the institutions of science are in need of reform, reform that will bring them closer to fulfilling their role of providing humanity with reliable answers to significant questions. Kitcher also suggested some practical steps for getting there, such as the creation of an atlas of scientific significance and an index of human needs. In this session of Philosophy Workshop, I will present an alternative set of practical suggestions for reforming scientific institutions. (My suggestions, in mind-map format, will be circulated prior to the workshop.) These suggestions include reforms to the process of science funding, to the division of responsibility between funding bodies, to the role of amateur science, and to the role of online publication and review. I hope to hear from you suggestions for improving this set of practical proposals, and also to discuss your thoughts about the kind of philosophical arguments that would favour this proposal over its alternatives, both those in practice and those proposed by Kitcher and others.