Issue: Science
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Libertarians support the separation of science and state. Science is too important to allow government to manage or control it.
Science is a process by which we increase our understanding of the natural world, always seeking better models, not a set of facts that can properly be the subject of legislation or edict. Government has no business endorsing scientific theories or findings. Throughout history, attempts by authoritarian institutions to impose "official" views on scientific questions have interfered with progress. Famous examples include suppression of the heliocentric model of our solar system and the promotion of the Lamarckian theory of evolution. Our society today is not exempt from repetition of such follies. Similarly, government should not endorse or attempt to discredit scientists or scientific organizations. Experts in various scientific fields are best identified by their peers. The general public should not be misled by titles or honors bestowed by politicians and bureaucrats. Many Libertarians have a strong interest in science, but they do not see taxes as the proper way to support scientific research. In addition to the basic injustice of taking money by force, from people who may have other priorities, to pay for something that they personally consider worthy, government funding of research creates perverse incentives that can lead to waste of resources, while discouraging research that might lead to both better understanding of nature and practical new products and methods. Research should be privately funded by businesses, universities, and other institutions that allow those interested in various fields and scientific questions to pool their resources for this purpose. Government can best facilitate this by lowering taxes, on both businesses and individuals, to allow non-government institutions to put more of their resources into this important activity. |