Scientism and Values.pdf - Ludwig von Mises Institute

Social Science and the Problem of Value 21
search." But it involves, on the other hand, also personal and
societal biases and ideological prejudices. Scientis,m here m,eans
the intrusion of ideological biases and personal prejudices,usually
in a more or less subtle way-into the enterprise of science
itself. The problem here is most acute as a quest for objectivity.
Even if we grant-as I think we mugt-that ultimate or absolute
objectivity is beyond human reach, still the effort must at least
be made to state clearly our presuppositions and indicate our basic
valuations, and not to let prejudice and ideological concern distort
our findings as scientists or as philo,sophers, as the case may be.
NOTE
1. "Theory Construction and the Problem of Objectivity," in Symposium on
Sociological Theory, Llewellyn Gross, editor '(Evanston: Row, Peterson
and Company, 1959).