Abstract

NOVA LAVERDE, Mariluz. Reflections on Making Science a More Dependable Ally in the Struggle for Social Justice. rev.estud.soc. [online]. 2011, n.39, pp.109-118. ISSN 0123-885X.

In this article we offer some reflections on how to design mechanisms so that the products of science and technology can better promote social equity. In other words, we offer clues to answer the question, How can we turn science and technology into a more dependable ally in the struggle for social justice? To do this, we outline criteria of justice that we use to analyze the relationship between science and society. We then specify a notion of public policy related to the idea of governance. Recognizing that the products of science and technology can exacerbate as well as diminish social inequity, we examine the possible negative effects through three types of inequality: structural, distributional, and representational inequality. This framework allows us to offer nine public-policy guidelines to encourage the products of science and technology to promote equity-related goals, which also represents a genuine effort to democratize knowledge.

Keywords : Public policy; Equity; Science; Technology; Governance; Democratization.

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