Theoretical legitimacy and intellectual legitimacy: a duality source of ethical questions for scientific researchers

Abstract

On the occasion of certain current events and sometimes under the contingency of immediacy, scientific researchers belonging to various institutions, disciplines, frames of reference, fields of research (economics, political science, philosophy, international relations, etc.), commit intellectually by commenting, analyzing, theorizing, and producing a critical discourse on public issues and issues. Knowing that the social space becomes not only the place of their observation and action, but also that of their reflection in action, it remains important to focus on this double identity of researchers who are both scientists and observers of the society. How do the latter manage to arbitrate between their scientific power established in the ethics of their function and their intellectual power which responds only to the demands of their conscience and their conviction? This text offers a theoretical reflection on the question of exploring some issues, both ethical and deontological, which may be associated with it. The article also explains how equipping reflexivity in any endeavor, not only matters with regard to the status to be accorded to scientific work, but also requires an analysis of the conditions of all intellectual production. It is this reflexivity that determines the future of science and its ability to provide tangible answers to various societal problems. It is established as a condition and a fundamental dimension for the development of genuine research ethics.

JEL Classification: A20

Paper type: Theoretical Research