The moral authority of science: Evidence from parliamentary debates in seven countries

Abstract

Relying on a neo-institutionalist framework of epistemic governance, this article examines the rhetorical function the term ‘science’ plays in the parliamentary discourse of seven countries. Our analysis confirms that ‘science’ is often referred to by members of parliaments throughout the world and across all policy sectors. We find ample references not just to particular sciences, but also to science in the abstract, and find hardly any contests around the mentions of science beyond technical contests around the credibility of a particular result. Our analysis reveals crucial forms of epistemic work conducted by evoking ‘science’ in the abstract. Drawing on and elaborating Durkheim’s view of morality and the framework of epistemic governance, we argue that much of the work done by references to ‘science’ can be characterised as building a moral authority of science.