The Incentivised University: Scientific Revolutions, Policies, Consequences

The core thesis of this book is that to understand the implications of incentive structures in modern higher education, we require a deeper understanding of associated issues in the philosophy of science. It argues that the assumption that academic research will tend towards finding truth is misplaced, with serious implications for modern higher education and its role in informing societal decisions and government policy. The book develops a philosophical foundation for the analysis of the connection between higher education incentives, scientific progress, and societal outcomes, and illustrates the arguments with examples from medicine and academic economics. It provides a novel critique of modern economics that provides a more philosophically substantive foundation for popular critiques of economics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 226 pages
Publication date: 26 January 2023
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

The core thesis of this book is that to understand the implications of incentive structures in modern higher education, we require a deeper understanding of associated issues in the philosophy of science. Significant public and philanthropic resources are directed towards various forms of research in the hope of addressing key societal problems. That view, and the associated allocation of resources, relies on the assumption that academic research will tend towards finding truth – or at least selecting the best approximations of it.

The present book builds on, and extends, contributions in philosophy and higher education to argue that this assumption is misplaced: with serious implications for modern higher education and its role in informing societal decisions and government policy. The book develops a philosophical foundation for the analysis of the connection between higher education incentives, scientific progress, and societal outcomes. That in turn is used to demonstrate how the current approach to incentivising intellectual and scientific progress is likely not only to fail, but in fact to cause harm on the very dimensions it purports to improve. The arguments presented are illustrated with examples from medicine and academic economics, making the book one of the first to examine issues of scientific progress and social consequences across the human and social sciences. In doing so, it develops a novel critique of modern economics that, in turn, provides a more philosophically substantive foundation for popular critiques of economics than has existed to date.

The book argues that the current approach to incentivising intellectual and scientific progress is flawed in several key ways. Firstly, it focuses too narrowly on individual incentives and rewards, rather than taking into account the broader social and economic context in which research is conducted. This can lead to a misalignment of incentives, where researchers are motivated by personal gain rather than by the broader social good. Secondly, the book argues that the current approach to incentivising scientific progress is based on a flawed understanding of the nature of scientific knowledge and the process of scientific discovery. It assumes that scientific progress is linear and cumulative, and that breakthroughs can be achieved through the accumulation of individual research findings. However, the book argues that scientific progress is often nonlinear and unpredictable, and that breakthroughs can arise from unexpected sources or through the combination of different disciplines. Thirdly, the book argues that the current approach to incentivising scientific progress is likely to have negative social consequences. It can lead to the prioritisation of short-term gains over long-term sustainability, and can result in the exploitation of vulnerable populations or the environment. Finally, the book argues that the current approach to incentivising scientific progress is unlikely to be effective in addressing the complex and interconnected challenges facing society today. It can lead to the over-specialisation of researchers, and can result in a lack of interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange.

In conclusion, the present book offers a novel critique of modern economics that provides a more philosophically substantive foundation for popular critiques of economics than has existed to date. It argues that the current approach to incentivising intellectual and scientific progress is flawed in several key ways, and that a more holistic and socially responsible approach is needed to promote scientific progress and address the complex challenges facing society today.

Weight: 373g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030844493
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021