The Paradox of Institutional Trust
Lisa Herzog
27 June 2024
Many of the societal responsibilities of science can only be fulfilled if the connections between science and society, e.g. general audience members and politicians, function well, connections that are often framed in terms of “trust in science.” This paper contributes to the literature on trust in science by focusing on the tension between a trust-based and a reliability-based view of science as an institution, and its implication for scientists who communicate to non-scientists. Paradoxically, while many arguments speak in favor of a trust-based view of science, scientists who want to build trust with non-scientists need to fall back on reliability mechanisms, because they communicate not only about their own work, but also that of others within the institution of science. This analysis is situated the framework of Max Weber’s famous distinction of traditional, bureaucratic, and charismatic authority. The conclusion turns to practical implications for science communication and suggest a possible solution.
