Taking pluralism seriously: a new perspective on evidence-based policy

Abstract

Scientific policy advice in the face of complex real-world problems requires a maximally pluralistic knowledge base. However, integrating different types of knowledge from a variety of sources raises a series of highly challenging epistemic as well as practical problems. We propose an integrated model of pluralistic policy advice emphasizing the appropriate constitution and structure of pluralistic expert panels. Furthermore, we suggest that normative assumptions underlying expert advice should be made explicit to policymakers. The goal should not be to avoid normative biases, but rather to create transparency with respect to the unavoidable value judgements that influence the epistemic preferences of experts and to provide policymakers with evidence-based scenarios that range over a variety of value preferences.