THE POLITICS OF PURITY: ORIGINS OF THE IDEAL OF NEUTRAL SCIENCE (NAZI SCIENCE, VALUE-FREE SCIENCE, WEBER)

The purpose of the thesis is to explore the historical origins of what is fundamentally a philosophical problem--namely, the relation of fact and value, science and ethics. The early ideal of neutrality is traced to four problems in science theory: the problem of the utility of knowledge (the relation of theory and practice); the question of the nature and source of value; the problem of the search for reliable methods; and the problem of securing institutional foundations for the pursuit of knowledge. The rise of the modern ideal of "wertfreie Wissenschaft" in German social theory is traced to these early origins, and to further historical changes in the relation of science and society--the rise of the industrial research laboratory, the professionalization of science, and the growth of empirical methods in nineteenth century European science. The thesis is advanced that the ideal of "value-neutrality" that arises in German social and economic theory in the early years of the twentieth century represents both a response to certain professional pressures, and a weapon to be used against social movements of the day--especially feminism, social Darwinism, and social democracy. The thesis concludes with a survey of the problem of neutrality in modern science theory, and describes the conception of the politics of knowledge in four forms of science theory: theory of the logic of science, of scientific change, the social origins of science, and finally, the critique of science.; In an extended epilogue, constituting a second part to the thesis, one particular case of the interaction of science and politics is explored in the rise of Nazi racial science. Topics covered include the origins of racial hygiene, and the medical and scientific participation in Nazi racial crime. The thesis is advanced that biomedical scientists not only cooperated in Nazi racial programs, but actually initiated many of these programs. The point is further made, that many racial scientists considered their science to be "value-free" science, standing above all politics.