Government officials around the world have been telling the public that their response to the pandemic is “guided by science”, and that they rely on their scientist-advisors regarding which public health measures to put in place. Most people have abided by these measures, which have effectively slowed the spread of the virus, and prevented a collapse of our healthcare system.
The truth is, however, that science never guides. It may inform us, but it never gives us guidance [1]. Science does not lend direct support to any public policy, the latter should be vetted and weighed by a democratic process.
Here is a story/analogy to illustrate the point I’m making:
Some years ago, my father was admitted into the ER — a jujube kernel blocked his esophagus. Doctors told us that it would be a routine and minor operation, as many people had accidentally swallowed things and undergone the same operation to remove them. But still, I was worried, and asked them about the potential risks involved, and how they would respond if the worst case scenario happened. Only after we had gathered all the information from the doctors and were assured that they were fully prepared did we agree to the procedure. It was a success, and my father returned home a few hours later.
The public health measures is like a major operation on the body politic. Science can tell us the risks involved, and potentially the best and worst case scenarios, but it is still up to the people to decide whether they want to implement these measures, and which measures would best serve their needs; Science might tell us that the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions are most vulnerable, that the majority of the infected have mild symptoms and will recover, that the disease can cause deaths in all age groups, but the people must decide whether that is a risk they are willing to take. The people need to make the necessary ethical/moral choices about which science is completely silent [2].
In short, while I agree with and have abided by the public health measures, and am very grateful to our health officials for their dedication and hard work, I’m a little concerned that the “guided by science” mantra is too misleading, and might be used to bypass/undermine the democratic process.
Notes:
- ^1. Platonists might recognize here the important distinction between the senses of the body and the judgement of the soul.
- ^2. For a fuller explanation of the limits of science, see “Nature and the Greeks” by Erwin Schrödinger