The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Revisiting 'Weinberg's Choice': Classic Tensions in the Concept of Scientific Merit

Author

Summary, in English

Alvin Weinberg's classic and much debated two articles in Minerva, "Criteria for Scientific Choice" (1963) and "Criteria for Scientific Choice II - The Two Cultures" (1964), represent two of the first and most important attempts to create a meta-discourse about priority setting in science policy, and many of the points advanced remain relevant. The goal of this paper is to elaborate on the relevance of some of Weinberg's original arguments to priority setting today. We have singled out four issues for attention: The tension between scientific and institutional choice, the assumptions behind the triad of scientific, technological and social merit, the elusive 'externality from size' argument for funding promoted by Weinberg, and finally the problems involved in the idea of basic science as an 'overhead cost' for applied science, and applied science as an 'overhead' on a sectoral mission. These four issues will be elaborated from a policy perspective and connected to present day challenges for science and technology policy.

Department/s

Publishing year

2012

Language

English

Pages

381-396

Publication/Series

Minerva

Volume

50

Issue

3

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Social Sciences Interdisciplinary

Keywords

  • Science and technology policy
  • Scientific choice
  • Applied science
  • Big
  • Science
  • Relevance

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1573-1871