Values, Objectivity and Subjectivity in Science and Engineering

Abstract

SUMMARY It is well known that evaluations play an important role in engineering design. It is also well known that modern engineering is largely dependent on science, and, reversely, that natural science depends largely on engineering. Moreover, engineering may be the most important customer of science. In this context, it is rather surprising that, in many science circles, the ideal of value-free science is held in high esteem. In this paper, it is argued that the claim for value-free science is strictly speaking untenable. The value situation in science (and to a lesser extent also in engineering) is discussed, and it is concluded that 'value free' actually means 'free from any value but the scientific value'. This second definition turns out to be a compound value complex. Besides the scientific values, the instrumental value and a group of anthropological values often also play an important role. Attention is paid to differences between science and engineering concerning the degrees to which, for instance, the explanatory and predictive values have to be realised. A special section is devoted to the value situation of engineering design science.

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