Értéksemlegesség

Értéksemlegesség, a Hungarian term, translates to value neutrality or value freedom in English. It is a concept primarily associated with social sciences and research, advocating for the separation of personal values and biases from the objective observation and analysis of social phenomena. The principle suggests that researchers should strive to conduct their work without allowing their own moral, political, or ideological beliefs to influence their data collection, interpretation, or conclusions.

The ideal of value neutrality was notably promoted by sociologist Max Weber, who argued that while social science can describe what is, it cannot prescribe what ought to be. He distinguished between factual judgments, which can be empirically tested, and value judgments, which are subjective and based on personal ethics. While complete objectivity may be an unattainable ideal, the pursuit of value neutrality serves as a critical methodological guideline. It aims to enhance the credibility and scientific rigor of research by minimizing the risk of biased findings. Researchers are encouraged to be transparent about their potential biases and to employ rigorous methodologies that promote objectivity. The concept remains a subject of ongoing discussion and debate within academic circles regarding its practical implementation and limitations.