Urszula Szewczyk: Science as a Tool in a Meritocratic Narrative

This talk examines how science is used as a legitimizing tool within meritocratic narratives, often serving to reinforce technocratic authority by positioning certain political perspectives as rational and objective. In meritocratic systems, scientific knowledge and expertise are frequently invoked to justify policies, suggesting that decisions are based on neutral, evidence-driven reasoning (Sandel 2020). This narrative asserts that those in positions of authority-often technocratic elites-are best equipped to govern because their reliance on scientific methodologies and facts ensures rational decision-making. By framing their views in this way, meritocratic elites create a contrast with other political perspectives, particularly those grounded in moral, cultural, or populist concerns, which are often dismissed as irrational or driven by emotion rather than reason (Müller 2016).
The talk delves into how this dichotomy between rationality and morality is constructed and the political consequences of such a framing. Opposition between raw facts and values has been rarely questioned in discussions on the relationship between politics and science (Douglas 2009, Latour 2004). The reliance on science and expertise allows for the marginalization of alternative viewpoints, as they are portrayed as lacking the necessary intellectual rigor to participate in legitimate political discourse. This can lead to the exclusion of voices that challenge the status quo, particularly those of populist movements, which are often dismissed for their perceived reliance on sentiment or simplistic moral claims.
However, this use of science in political narratives is not without ethical and philosophical challenges. By elevating scientific rationality above other forms of reasoning, meritocratic governance risks neglecting the moral and cultural dimensions that are integral to democratic debate. This talk explores whether science, as a tool of authority, can obscure the complexities of governance by presenting technocratic solutions as inherently superior, and whether this dynamic limits genuine democratic engagement. Ultimately, it questions whether the emphasis on rationality within meritocratic narratives is as neutral and objective as it claims to be, or if it serves to perpetuate existing power structures by dismissing dissenting voices.
Urszula Szewczyk is PhD student at Doctoral School University of Bialystok. The topic of her doctoral dissertation is Democracy, Post-Truth, and Scientific Knowledge. She focuses on social and political philosophy, examining the relationship between science and democracy in the face of populism. She obtained her Bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Warsaw in 2021. In 2023, she earned her Master's degree from the University of Białystok, defending a thesis titled The problem of the dependence of facts on theories in Paul Feyerabend’s approach.
Her talk was part of the international Online-Workshop Call for Interferences - Act up/Building up: EcoTechGender Action Group that was hosted by the Center for the History of Women Philosophers and Scientists within the research project EcoTechGender. The workshop was organized by Prof. Dr. Ruth E. Hagengruber and Felix Grewe. More informations can be found at the webpage of the Center for the History of Women Philosophers and Scientists and the project EcoTechGender: historyofwomen... historyofwomen... historyofwomen...