Seminar: Heather Douglas, “Philosophy and Epistemology of Economics”

Course: “Philosophy and Epistemology of Economics” with Heather Douglas as part of the Hoover Chair seminar “Responsibility in Science and Politicisation of Science”, by Professor Pierre-Etienne Vandamme, open to researchers, teachers, and students in philosophy and economics.

Venue: Leclerc 85 – Andrée de Jongh Learning Centre, Place Montesquieu.

Abstract

Understandings of societal responsibility in science have shifted dramatically over the past century. While the 20th century’s social contract for science held that those pursuing basic research had no societal responsibilities other than pursuing the truth to the best of their abilities (because of the downstream benefits of scientific findings), concerns about dual-use and dangerous research and the growing power of science to impact society have made such a view untenable in the 21st century. Calls for broad societal responsibility among scientists are pervasive, but generally vague. What should it mean for scientists to be societally responsible? This is a particularly thorny question when we consider that the 20th century understanding of a (lack of) societal responsibility, while untenable, did shield scientists from political power, conceptualizing them as truth finding entities outside of the political system. Rethinking societal responsibility in science requires thinking both about how scientists’ societal responsibilities should be understood and how to protect them from illegitimate abuses of political power. This talk will argue that thinking both in terms of responsibility floors and ideals and in terms of responsibility and accountability allows us to see how to have a societally responsible science without a politicized science.

More information and other events related to the 2026 DHC’s awarded to Heather Douglas and Olivette Otele: https://www.uclouvain.be/fr/facultes/fial/news/doctorats-honoris-causa-2026.