The pandemic has dramatically emphasized the authority that scientific expertise commands in our political culture. As the CDC has periodically updated its guidelines over the course of the year, states, localities, and businesses adapted their policies in light of the new findings. The mantra of covid-19 has been “follow the science,” as though some rational machine processes new data and computes updated guidelines behind the scenes.

Often overlooked is the central role that human judgment plays in scientific discovery. Tony Mills, AEI resident scholar and expert in science policy, joins Adam to discuss the ways judgment and deliberation guide scientific discovery. They also consider how to weigh scientific knowledge with other forms of expertise relevant to public policy. Tony’s recent paper, “The Role of Judgment and Deliberation in Science-Based Policy,” explores the themes of this episode.