Philosophy of Science Communication

A philosophical inquiry into the ethics, epistemology, and pragmatics of communicating science to non-scientists. It asks: what is the goal of science communication—informing, persuading, democratizing, or building trust? Should science communicators be neutral or advocate? How much uncertainty should be disclosed? It also examines the “deficit model” (assuming the public lacks facts) versus participatory models. It critiques the assumption that “more facts produce better decisions,” noting that values, risk perception, and worldviews also matter. It draws on ethics (e.g., the duty to inform without causing panic), epistemology (what counts as accessible knowledge), and rhetoric.

Example: “The philosophy of science communication challenges the idea that a graph is neutral: choosing a y-axis scale, a color scheme, and a headline are rhetorical acts that shape interpretation. Communication is never pure information transfer.”

Philosophy of Science Communication by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal June 1, 2026