A vida pública de fatos científicos: ciência e política na CPI da pandemia no Brasil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/s0103-4014.202539113.010Keywords:
Science denial, Post-truth, Covid-19, Epistemic authority, Scientific controversiesAbstract
The Covid-19 pandemic brought renewed urgency to the debate on scientific denialism. For many critics, when the field of Science and Technology Studies emphasized the power relations within scientific practices, thus paving the way for the contestation of modern science, it created a political narrative that has been exploited by far-right populists. In this article, we address this issue based on debates about epistemic authority and the uses of science during the Brazilian “Covid Parliamentary Commission”. Through the analysis of exchanges between deponents and senators, it becomes evident that Jair Bolsonaro’s political group often mobilized scientific symbols and codes to legitimize their positions. The article particularly examines the processes of establishing epistemic credibility and delineating the boundaries of science. Contrary to popular belief, our findings suggest that, in Brazil, the ascent of post-truth ideologies does not stem from blurring the lines between science and politics. Instead, far-right populists reinforce these boundaries while advocating for the sanctity of scientific practice.
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