Behavioural sciences in law and policy : a case of scientific imperialism?

Abstract

The paper discusses applications of the behavioural sciences to law and aims at contributing to the contemporary discussions on scientific imperialism. By analysing these applications we demonstrate difficulties with defining scientific imperialism in terms of relations between disciplines. The analysis advanced in the paper critically assesses existing accounts of scientific imperialism and paves the way for a more robust approach to both the definition and evaluation of instances of scientific imperialism. The analysis of these ideas is preliminary and we look forward to comments from readers of this work-in-progress.