Hanne Andersen

My primary research focus is on the historical development and structural conditions of 20th and 21st century science, broadly construed. In examining science as it is practiced, I integrate historical and contemporary case studies with analytical tools drawn from general philosophy of science, social epistemology, and research ethics.

I am currently working on two closely related projects. The one is a historical-philosophical analysis of the overarching systemic forces that has promoted or halted scientific progress from the mid-20th century an onwards, how contemporary epistemic goals and values compare to those of the past, and how tensions and imbalances in the systemic forces can create severe challenges for the scientific endeavor. The other is to develop a philosophical account of epistemic sustainability that is thoroughly based on historical as well as contemporary case studies of how changes in scientific practices promote or hinder not only scientific progress per se, but also the regeneration of epistemic skills and competencies across generation as well as the capacity of the scientific community to continuously filter, store and transmit a growing scientific record in posterity. For both projects, an important aim of my research is to provide important input and guidance for ongoing debates in science policy on research organization, research funding, and strategic research planning.

These two current projects build on and synthesize much of my previous historical and philosophical work on interdisciplinarity and expertise, on research integrity, and on academic institutions and scholarly careers.