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TECHNICAL DISPUTES: WHY EXPERTS DISAGREE
Author(s) -
Rushefsky Mark
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
review of policy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.832
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1541-1338
pISSN - 1541-132X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1541-1338.1982.tb00492.x
Subject(s) - rationalization (economics) , argument (complex analysis) , epistemology , law and economics , political science , action (physics) , positive economics , sociology , law , economics , philosophy , biochemistry , chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
Disputes among scientists provide policymakers with rationalization for any course of action. These disputes are marked by divergent views of the risks involved in the development of specific technologies. This paper argues that such disagreements are epistemological in nature, which means that “technical” disputes cannot be resolved through mechanisms such as the science court. The case of the herbicide 2, 4, 5‐T illustrates the argument.