Science for sale – build or criticize science as trademark

Abstract

Over history science has, in a more and more agnostic world, come to replace religion as the most important hegemonic factor how to decide what is correct and what is incorrect, what is necessary and what may not be done, but also what is (at least in technical terms) good respectively bad. In this essay, originally a speech for the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, I argue that science in an utilitarian manor has left the virtues upon which it bases its societal status, to instead become an instrument for stability and protection of beneficiaries established position, deceiving not only the ideals Socrates stood for but hence also the fundamental values upon which it has during history, and with so many sacrifices built its societal position.