IL GOVERNO DELLA SCIENZA DALL’AUTOREFERENZIALITA' ALLE INTERAZIONI SISTEMICHE TRA SCIENZA, POLICY E DEMOCRAZIA

this paper addresses some aspects of the current relations between science and democracy, with a specific focus on the question of the «rightful place» of science in democratic societies, and on the meaning and implications of what is called «democratization of science». After a brief illustration of the traditional liberal and self-referential model of science, and of the supposed separatedness between science and society, the paper describes some impasses in science and the scientific community, and argues in favor of a rethinking of science in the light of the principles governing democratic societies.