Comment Responsible Conduct of Science: A Social Science Perspective*

Abstract

One feels obliged to begin with recording one’s feeling that a conference on the responsible conduct of science, which seems to be the third conference in a series, is a highly commendable and timely effort. It is believed that now that this theme has been floated for discussion, informed discussion would take place across the country on a neglected area of academic inquiry. In this modest paper three themes would be presented for discussion and a few remarks would be made in order to highlight what one believes could be the major issues in this regard. First, there is need to understand the nature of relationship between the natural sciences and the social sciences. Second, one needs to conceptualize what responsible science stands for, and finally, how both of these apply to our society and in what manner Pakistani society can be reformed through close cohabitation of different sciences, natural as well as social.