Osimani, Barbara and Ilardo, Maria Laura and Castaldo, Pasqualina (2020) Science as a Weapon of Mass Distraction. MEDIC, 28 (1). pp. 30-49. ISSN 1824-3991

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Abstract

With the COVID-19 pandemic the relationship between science and warfare seems to have scaled up to a new level. in the current information war, science seems to be used as the weapon itself, instrumentalized by different parties featuring diverse vested interests with the aim to advance their agendas.
In such circumstances information may be manipulated in several ways. The paper ranks different forms of “persuasion” in ascending order, from paternalism to full-blown authoritarianism, as exemplified by various episodes during the COVID-19 emergency. Finally, it advances some proposals regarding science policy approaches, in particular the development of virtuous mechanisms that reward overall public and individual health, instead of just reimbursing interventions (with the consequent spiral of increasing insurance costs). As Tallacchini (2019) underlines, authoritarianism and nudging are not the only possible routes to be explored. A third way is a new confidence pact between institutions, private sector and citizens, and a new Hippocratic oath between patients and doctors, fostered by the right mechanisms, both for the social planner and for the entrepreneur, in view of the long term wellbeing and welfare of the population.

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Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Osimani, Barbara barbaraosimani@gmail.com Ilardo, Maria Laura marialaurai1891@gmail.com Castaldo, Pasqualina p.castaldo@univom.it
Keywords:	Science, Regulatory Capture, Medicine, Vaccination, COVID-19
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Medicine > Epidemiology General Issues > Science and Society General Issues > Science and Policy General Issues > Science vs. Pseudoscience General Issues > Values In Science
Depositing User:	Prof. Barbara Osimani
Date Deposited:	03 Jan 2021 14:23
Last Modified:	03 Jan 2021 14:23
Item ID:	18536
Journal or Publication Title:	MEDIC
Publisher:	Pacini
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Medicine > Epidemiology General Issues > Science and Society General Issues > Science and Policy General Issues > Science vs. Pseudoscience General Issues > Values In Science
Date:	2020
Page Range:	pp. 30-49
Volume:	28
Number:	1
ISSN:	1824-3991
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/18536

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