3. Outline
• Welcome to module 2
• Why does science matter?
• For problem-oriented inquiry
• For ethics
• For democracy
• What is science?
• Worldview
• Body of knowledge (6)
• Institutions (7)
• Methods and tools (8)
• Understanding climate science (9/10)
• So…what should we do? (11)
4. Science in problem-
oriented inquiry
• Goals: to stabilize greenhouse gas
concentrations "at a level that
would prevent dangerous
anthropogenic (human induced)
interference with the climate
system.” UNFCCC
• Trends: GHG concentrations up…
• Conditioning Factors: Human
activities…
• Projections: ‘Dangerous’ levels
ahead…
• Alternatives: Adaptation,
mitigation measures… Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mauna_Loa_Carbon_Dioxide_Apr2013.svg
6. Science and ethics
• But do you really know… do you know
enough? And what actions are compatible
with your knowledge?
• “It is wrong always, everywhere, and for
anyone to believe anything on insufficient
evidence.”
• W.K. Clifford on “The Ethics of Belief”
1877
• But what is ‘sufficient’…what if the clock is
ticking? “Doing nothing” is not an option,
not a neutral stance.
7. Science
and
Democracy
• Science crucial for legitimizing democratic decisions – a
neutral and independent source of authority, experts to
guide public policies.
• Their affinities
• Universalist
• Open
• Meritocratic
• Their tensions
• Equality and Expertise
8. What is science?
• A worldview
• Bodies of knowledge (6)
(what do we know?)
• Institutions (7) (who figured
this out?)
• Methods and tools (8) (how
did they figure it out?)