Scientism and Values.pdf - Ludwig von Mises Institute

Fiduciary Responsibility and Improbability Principle 105
in another connection, clarifying the Code of Ethics of the Society
for Applied Anthropology, the reader is informed:
It has been emphasized in discussions that the applied anthropologist
may properly work for a partisan group within a society (e.g., the
National Association of Manufacturers, the Congress of Industrial
Organizations, the Anti-Saloon League, the Planned Parenthood
League, the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, the National
Conference .of Christians and Jews, etc.) recognizing that such groups
are a significant and important part of our social life and that improvements
in the functioning and understanding of anyone such
group can be valuable to the whole society .. .1 4
It appears, therefore, that-discounting minor differences and
interdisciplinary rivalry-one might accept the inaugural statement
of Burgess on Social Problems) that H ••• It will join with
such kindred publications as the Journal of Social Issues and
Human Organization in promoting interdisciplinary exchange of
ideas and cooperation in interdisciplinary research. In short, it will
enable the Society for the Study of Social Problems to share its
interests with a broader public -and to accomplish its several missions
more effectively." 15
In summary, it is rather obvious that substantial value positions
are explicitly stated as b.asic to the efforts of at least the identified
groups of professional behavioral scientists. The determination to
remake people, societies, and, in fact, the whole world shows
clearly in the foregoing, regardless of costs, in some cases at least,
and regardless of the resistance of part or the whole of the populations
whose ways of life are displeasing to the scientists. This ,aim
can be understood perhaps in connection with another value, held
equally dear-the equalitarian orientation.I 5a The effort to show
that eVffybody is, or is about to be, completely equal must hold an
element of uncertainty. If this is the fact, or is about to be the
fact, of human existence, it becomes clearly illogical and unnecessary
to make it the goal of a social movement. (The social scientists
are, of course, exempt from equality, since they are in charge.)
In the pursuit of the goal of new creation, the capitalist economic
system must be inevitably suspect, since it distributes