Separation of Science and State

[Brian37]

The question: Should there be any separation between science and government (synonymous to church and state)? What should the relationship between science and government be? Are there any dangers in that relationship?

People on this forum think of science the same way that evangelicals think of God: when it does a good thing, it gets the credit, but when it does a bad thing, something else must be to blame.

In fact science is a loose set of practices, always enacted by fallible biased human beings. These days it is funded mostly by for-profit companies and the Pentagon. Scientists are very likely to discover the things that their funders want them to find. 

Putting our trust in some abstract noun called "science" is a faith-based abdication of responsibility. People in government should act with scientists as advisors, but make their decisions along ethical lines.

"People on this forum think of science the same way evangelicals think of God" No we don't, don't lump all of us in together. Even on issues of science if you have been here a long time, even we don't always agree.

What I say is that science certainly can be used for both good and bad. The Japanese and Nazis used science to make weapons. Science is also used by the North Koreans, to develop their missile program. And go back and read my post. That abuse also exists in the private sector. Tobacco use to put doctors on TV selling the idea that smoking was healthy. Big oil spends tons of money on unethical "scientists" to keep their dangerous product in production. 

BUT both government and private sector, friend or foe, that is a separate issue from scientists, and they do exist, who have no horse in the race other than to seek facts and advocate for valuing those facts independent on agenda or bias. 

No, scientific method IS NOT "a loose set of practices", it is a tool, that every field uses. Don't confuse scientists, with the tool. Scientists are human beings, the hammer is scientific method. If you are unethical as a scientist, you are highly likely to abuse the tool. If you are ethical, you will never be afraid of being wrong when your peers point out your errors. Those types are far more likely to end up with more accurate data.