Epistemological foundations and principles for the democratization of the governance of science – DEMOCRASCI

The project deals, under a philosophical angle, with the problem of the governance of science in our contemporary democratic societies. Who should decide on the main orientations and priories of scientific research? This issue has an epistemological dimension to the extent that the various possible answers presuppose, to be justified, particular conceptions of the nature of science, its modes of development and its aims. The first task of the project examines the validity of the philosophical presuppositions underlying the defense of the autonomy of science. The second task elaborates a contextualized view of its value and role. The third task, more exploratory, at the interface of philosophy of science, political philosophy and political sciences, aims at mapping out the principles of a democratized governance of science, and at exploring its possible practical forms.