The Cost of Smearing Social Sciences

While most political and economic issues in America remain the subject of extensive debate and widespread political differences, the right has succeeded with most Americans in largely marginalizing and discrediting many of the most important theories and discoveries in the social sciences. In public (as well as most private) schools, greater emphasis is placed on natural sciences such as physics, mathematics, biology and chemistry, while social sciences such as sociology, psychology, political science, anthropology, and philosophy are sidelined or neglected altogether. Beyond the classroom, there is a general prevailing notion that social sciences are in some way not factual, irreparably biased, or not scientific.

The conservative worldview came to be seen as irreconcilable with many aspects of modern social science partially because the discoveries of the social sciences were seen as supporting a more "liberal" worldview, and partially because of a general trend in which conservatives became increasingly hostile towards some sciences and academia in general, which they viewed as "out of touch" with American values. Conservatives have been largely successful in undermining the credibility of social sciences, though the rejection of these sciences was mostly based on misperceptions and mischaracterizations of many ideas and theories in the social sciences.

Most effectively, conservatives brought attention to a number of fringe elements in social science, such as those who advocate strict moral relativism, and associated entire fields of legitimate study with these widely rejected theories. In other cases, the value-neutral methodology of social sciences was intentionally conflated with a general rejection of moral values, when in fact a value-neutral approach is scientifically necessary for the effective study of different cultures and moral systems. The use of such methods does not imply that social scientists reject morality, any more than a judge would reject the law in trying to understand the actions of a criminal.

While it is not widely recognized, the marginalization and rejection of the social sciences has had profound negative effects on our society. In rejecting social sciences, our society has come to espouse an ill-informed view of individuality that neglects the great influences of culture, social interaction, and institutions which come together to shape and form our behaviors and perspectives. Our rejection of valuable sociological and feminist studies has led us to perceive women's eating disorders and self-image problems as simple personal or psychological issues, rather than realizing the important role of social norms, cultural pressures and societal ideals in causing these disorders. Similarly, our neglect of anthropological and cultural studies has left us largely incapable of understanding the differences in cultures throughout the world. This ignorance no doubt contributes to unfounded hostility towards other nations as well as misunderstanding of the actions and motives of allies and enemies alike. These failings of understanding result in substantial costs to America in our globalized world, and can contribute to hostility and global conflict.

This neglect has held our society from gaining vital understanding of human interactions and has prevented the development of a better, healthier, more flourishing society. What is to be made of the state of our culture when we can send men to the moon and unleash unthinkable destructive power with nuclear weapons, yet we neglect the necessity of understanding the intricacies of human interaction? Americans can continue to neglect the important studies of society and human formation at their own risk, however they should be aware of the costs of their willful ignorance.