ABSTRACT
A scientific approach would emphasize that judgment is a human cognitive activity and is subject to scientific analysis, as are all natural phenomena. The premises of a scientific approach to the relation of science to public policy are: human judgment is a critical part of the policy-making process; it is a part of the process that remains poorly understood; and it might well be improved through scientific study. This chapter provides an example that illustrates the social costs of employing the adversary system and the person-oriented approach and outlines a scientific framework for integrating scientific information and social values in the formation of public policy. The separation phase permits elected representatives to function exclusively as policy-makers, and scientists to function exclusively as scientists. Ethical and scientific standards converge in the process of combining facts and values because both scientific ethics and public ethics require controls against bias.
