Heather Douglas Epistemic Value

For my research paper I chose to reflect on the reading by Heather Douglas and her argument epistemic values must play a role in proper science. Throughout my paper I will explain how the problem of inductive risk as explained by Kuhn and Hempel shapes her view that we must consider non – epistemic consequences as a result from science thus we must weigh non epistemic values as an integral part of science. Douglas also explains how non – epistemic values play a role throughout the stages of science through the collection and deciphering of data. I will provide my reflection of Douglas and where I believe she makes good points and flaws.
The first stage of Douglas’ argument is the problem set out by reaching scientific conclusions through the inductive method. Inductive risk is the risk associated when doing science that there is a chance one will be wrong in accepting or rejecting a scientific hypothesis based on the fact we may in fact be wrong or cannot predict future events based on the past. That because no evidence can establish a hypothesis with certainty, acceptance of a hypothesis carries with it inductive risk that the hypothesis may turn out to be wrong. Hempel and Kuhn shared this concern that we can never know anything through the process of induction because what we believe or take for granted to be true, may in fact be false.
Douglas is concerned with the risk associated with being wrong in science based on inductive risk. Douglas goes on to claim that since there is the possibility one will be wrong when conducting science, that the individual must weigh the consequences that could stem from being wrong and conduct yourself or your research according to the consequences. Essentially Douglas is saying we have to look at the implications or consequences that could stem from being wrong based on inductive risk and then use non - epistemic values to weigh the consequences and make a decision. Douglas is claiming that scientists should be aware and