In the next Perspectives on Science seminar, Karoliina Pulkkinen (TINT / University of Helsinki) will give a talk titled “Legitimacy through outputs: how science and technology can contribute to nondemocratic legitimization”.
The seminar takes place in person at Metsätalo room 10 and online via Zoom from 14:15 to 15:45 on Monday the 10th of February 2025. To join the seminar, please contact samuli.reijula@helsinki.fi for the Zoom invitation.
Perspectives on Science is a research seminar which brings together experts from the philosophy of science and several fields of science studies. It is organized by TINT – Centre for Philosophy of Social Science at the University of Helsinki. More information about the seminar can be found on the TINT web page https://tint.helsinki.fi.
Abstract:
Many normative accounts of values in science propose that democratic mechanisms such as deliberative polling can help to legitimize values that influence research. However, since a considerable amount of scientific research occurs in nondemocratic countries, we also need explanatory approaches to better understand legitimization strategies in nondemocratic settings. A closer study of Soviet science shows how science and technology can help to legitimize regimes, as evidenced by Kendall Bailes’ (1976,1978) classic case study on Soviet aviation. Building Bailes’ work, this talk offers two explications on the role of science and technology in legitimising regimes. First, the achievements of research can be co-opted into legitimization. Second, researchers may be told or incentivised to contribute to outputs viewed as important for the regime, which can further legitimize political rule. All this points towards how we need to keep output-oriented theories of political legitimacy on board alongside input-oriented ones for a fuller grasp on political legitimacy and science.
Bio:
Karoliina Pulkkinen is a postdoctoral researcher based in the Aleksanteri Institute, University of Helsinki. She specializes in the role of values in science and history and philosophy of physical sciences, especially focusing on chemistry. She earned her PhD in 2019 from the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, Cambridge University. Prior to joining Aleksanteri Institute, she was based in KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, working on a collaborative project that involved climate scientists and philosophers. She currently serves as the editor of Chemical Intelligence and one of the co-founders of Jargonium, a blog on history and philosophy of chemistry, which will also transform into a podcast in spring 2025.