Question

MEDAL AND FAN!
Explain one specific instance where science was or is being used to make decisions?

Answer 1

I will argue here that science can most definitely help us make better choices—but only within a particular narrow sense of “better choices” used in cognitive science. Whether science aids us in a broader sense of the term “better choices” is much less certain.

To a psychologist “making better choices” means better human decision-making—and good decision-making to a cognitive scientist means rational decision-making. Philosophers define two types of rationality—instrumental and epistemic. To think rationally means taking the appropriate action given one’s goals and beliefs (instrumental rationality), and holding beliefs that are commensurate with available evidence (epistemic rationality). It’s handy to think of rationality as being about what to do and what is true. What to do—instrumental rationality; and what is true—epistemic rationality. Both facilitate good decision-making. High epistemic rationality helps indirectly because good decisions are based on beliefs about the world that match reality. Instrumental rationality is present when we make our choices by combining our goals with our beliefs in a way that maximizes goal achievement.