Law between the cultures: C.P. Snow's The Two Cultures and the problem of scientific illiteracy in law

Abstract

Fifty years later, C.P. Snow's description of the scientist/humanist divide still sparks debate. Though his book is flawed and in certain respects dated, it remains a heartfelt and intelligent brief for greater scientific literacy and investment, both at home and abroad. The problem of scientific illiteracy is serious, and has serious consequences in the law. In litigation, in legislation, and in the regulatory and enforcement actions of executive agencies, there is pervasive need for scientific expertise to inform legal decisions. But expert testimony in the courtroom or in hearings is a poor substitute for the slow consensus-building process that grounds reliable scientific knowledge. Moreover, the process of borrowing scientific expertise has often been tainted by political or interest-group agendas. For law to make productive use of scientific knowledge, what is required is not scientific understanding, but the humanist's ethical and political commitment to making fair and neutral use of others' expertise. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd.