Scientists can acknowledge racist projects without conceding science’s cultural neutrality

Evidence

Those who reject such criticisms, whom I shall refer to as the defenders of autonomous or neutral science, often acknowledge that such projects have been unjust and illfounded. Nevertheless, they reply, the racism of such projects, where it does exist, does not challenge the fundamental cultural neutrality of the sciences. Modern science cannot legitimately be charged with racism on the basis of these kinds of criticisms. — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1554

Categorization

• DEFINE: Names and fixes the ‘autonomous science’ defense position by separating the justice of individual projects from the claimed neutrality of the scientific enterprise as such.
• XREF: connects to: Racist science consequences arise from innocent assumptions, not bad intentions — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1572; Racism shaped Western science, not the reverse — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 408; Well-intentioned individuals can unknowingly contribute to racist institutional projects — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1559

Broader Connections

• Well-intentioned individuals can unknowingly contribute to racist institutional projects #expands (0.85) — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1559
• Racist science consequences arise from innocent assumptions, not bad intentions #expands (0.80) — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 1572
• Racism shaped Western science, not the reverse #expands (0.75) — Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism_ The Making of the Black…, 408