Philippe Stamenkovic: "Interviews of toxicologists on their views of extra-scientific values"

Philippe Stamenkovic, Uppsala University: "Interviews of toxicologists on their views of extra-scientific values. Consequences for the philosophical debate."

Abstract
In this presentation I summarise some empirical work performed while interviewing toxicologists about their views of extra-scientific values in their discipline. After recalling the current state of the philosophical debate on values in science and showing the interest of having empirical data to inform this debate, I present the methodological approach chosen here, namely semi-directive interviews. I also provide some background on (eco)toxicology, both in research (where new knowledge about the toxicity of chemicals is produced) and in expertise (where it is applied to their regulation). The central part of the talk is dedicated to presenting the contrasted results of the interviews: the perception by the interviewees of the discontinuity of practice between academic and expert toxicology; the value-freedom towards which both academic and expert toxicologists aspire; and nevertheless the value-ladenness which they not only observe but also normatively endorse. The last part is dedicated to analyse the implications of these findings for the philosophical debate: the tension between value-freedom and value-ladenness alternatively illustrates or disconfirms some arguments for extra-scientific values in science. This mismatch suggests further research avenues which I present in my conclusion.