These commonly held values bind societies together, and they form the basic rules by which societies are governed. Libert , egalit , et fraternit captures the essence of French shared national values. In the US, the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are expressions of similar shared values. In contrast, decision making within the US public health regulatory agencies is designed to be value-neutral. Science and values provide completely different guides to decision making.
Values are emotional connections between individuals, whereas science is value-neutral.
The scientific process attempts to minimize the influence of values, because they introduce biases into decisions. Scientists strive to be dispassionate observers to prevent personal values from influencing the decision making process. There is a dichotomy, therefore, between science and value driven decision-making. Most societal controversies that take place are based on differing values among individuals within the society. Science, on the other hand, is a deliberate, rational process.