180156 VO Science and democracy (2021S)

Democracy and science seem to be threatened today. The aim of these lectures is (a) to empirically reconstruct the status quo of science and democracy and, on the basis of this, (b) to develop a normative theory of science and democracy that opens up perspectives how science and philosophy of science could help us repelling assaults on democracy and science and prevent them in the future.
The lecture series disintegrates in two parts. First, we discuss several empirical approaches from historiography, political science, philosophy and history of science on the history and present state of democracy and science as well as threats such as populism, conspiracy theories, pseudo-science and science denialism. In the second part of these lectures, we outline a philosophical theory of science, democracy, and values, which is based on non-cognitivism as can be found in the Vienna Circle, early logical empiricism, and the democracy theory of Hans Kelsen. This normative conception is getting defended against alternative conceptions and becomes outlined in its potential usefulness for the overcoming of the current crisis of science and democracy.
The lectures are held online (Moodle) and will be broadcasted live, to allow for a permanent exchange and discussion with the participants. Each lecture is based on a mandatory reading, which will comprise between 50 and 80 pages per week. All texts will be made available online at Moodle. The lectures become recorded and will be also made available at Moodle.