Abstract

CUEVAS, Ana. Conocimiento científico, ciudadanía y democracia. Rev. iberoam. cienc. tecnol. soc. [online]. 2008, vol.4, n.10, pp.67-83. ISSN 1850-0013.

Since a few decades ago, the optimism about the benefits of science and technology has been gradually displaced by distrust and suspicion of their possible risks. In parallel, a claim has grown for achieving more fluid and understanding relationships between scientists, citizens and decision-making instances on this matter. This paper addresses the issue, reintroducing the philosophical debate between Dewey and Lippmann on the democracy in the United States and the role that common citizens, leaders, experts and the media should play in it. Picking up these issues may be useful to support the necessity for activating the participative model, not only for reasons of political convenience, but for epistemic and ethical reasons. If new channels are facilitated for a better communication between all the members of a society, and their arguments are taken into account, there will be a better citizen initiative for collaborating in these processes. Thus, we will be able to speak of an authentic social appropriation of scientific knowledge.

Keywords : Citizen participation; Democracy; Social appropriation of knowledge.

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