"Αξιακή κρίση"-"αξιολογική κρίση" και ο ρόλος της επιστήμης: Επαναπροσέγγιση των συγκεκριμένων εννοιών του Max Weber και της απόδοσής τους στα ελληνικά

Abstract

The starting point of the present paper is the standard rendering of the Weberian terms Werturteil and Wertfreiheit der Wissenschaft with the Greek terms ‘αξιολογική κρίση’ and ‘αξιολογική ελευθερία της επιστήμης’, instead of‘αξιακή κρίση’ and ‘αξιακή ελευθερία της επιστήμης’ suggested by the author. The translation of the terms established heretofore generates a less accurate comprehension of the corresponding concepts: according to Weber, the ‘αξιακές κρίσεις’ are indicative of what we desire most in virtue of our institutional and professional role and in the context of our subjective criteria and convictions. By contrast, the ‘αξιολογικές κρίσεις’ are, as far possible, objective, valid and reliable evaluations shaped with the assistance of reason and science. Thus the former should not be confounded with the latter. On this basis, the procedure of research comprises two distinct phases: in the first, the research question is selected according to the interests of the researcher and his/her time. The issue in the second phase is to proceed with the research itself objectively, in a valid and reliable manner, in accordance with the norms of reason and the artificial means of science. In the first stage, science being value-free (wertfrei) is incompatible with the value-loaded motivation urging the researcher to opt for an ‘a’ or a ‘b’ approach. In the second stage, the contribution of science in the rational evaluation and appraisal of means and ends presupposes that science be free of value judgments in its (technically demarcated) role. Nevertheless, no matter how important its role, science cannot, on its own, evaluate reality by taking a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ position, since this task is interconnected with criteria deriving from consciousness, society, personal aesthetics and so on, that science is incompatible with.