ABSTRACT

Scientists, in the public imagination, are intrepid explorers. They stand at the edge of human knowledge and carve out new territory, break down barriers and rewrite the rules. Nature has no political ideology and carries no passport. Science, at its best, also espouses such cosmopolitan ideals. That data is neutral, and science is apolitical, makes for an alluring narrative. By clinging to it, the scientist appears assured, almost noble, rising above the messy and the mundane by sheer force of intellect. But reality does not conform to such convenient self-delusion. In this essay, the author argues that pretending to be above and beyond politics is by itself a political position; in adopting it, one has aligned with the state and sided with the powerful.

摘要

在公众的想象中，科学家是无畏的探索者。他们站在人类知识的边缘，开拓新领域，打破壁垒并重写规则。大自然没有政治意识形态，也没有护照。科学充其量也拥护这种国际化的理想。数据是中立的，科学是非政治的，这使人着迷。通过坚持下去，这位科学家显得无比自信，几乎是高尚的，他凭着巨大的智力就越过了杂乱无章的世界。但是现实并不符合这种方便的自我欺骗。在本文中，作者认为，假装超越政治本身就是一种政治立场。在采用它的过程中，人们与国家保持一致，并与强大分子站在一起。