A COGNITIVE APPROACH TO RELEVANCE OF SCIENCE

The Starnberg finalization thesis offered a cognitive diagnosis of the relevance of science. With the present changes in science and its lin ks with society, this remains important but needs to be broadened. Rel evance occurred and continues to occur locally, and can be taken up in local-cosmopolitan fields (my broadened definition of scientific fiel ds). Chemistry is discussed as an example. The possibility of intrinsi c relevance has been obliterated by the historical process of ''purifi cation'' of science, including what is now called strategic science. W hile the pressure for relevance ran lead to fragmentation, this is not necessary A diagnosis of socio-cognitive dynamics must be made. Quali ty assurance resides in circulation, aggregation and robustness of out comes.