Public Policy and Methodological Myopia

The 2023 systematic review published by the Cochrane Library on the use of physical barriers to contain respiratory viruses became a landmark in the scientific and political debate surrounding non-pharmaceutical interventions during pandemics. This article analyzes the content and implications of t...

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Main Author: Marcos Giansante
Format: Article
Language:Portuguese
Published: Instituto Mises Brasil 2025-07-01
Series:Mises
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.revistamises.org.br/misesjournal/article/view/1611
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author Marcos Giansante
author_facet Marcos Giansante
author_sort Marcos Giansante
collection DOAJ
description The 2023 systematic review published by the Cochrane Library on the use of physical barriers to contain respiratory viruses became a landmark in the scientific and political debate surrounding non-pharmaceutical interventions during pandemics. This article analyzes the content and implications of the Cochrane Library (2023) study through the lens of Austrian epistemology, highlighting the limits of empirical knowledge in complex social phenomena, the risks of scientistic pretension in public policy formulation, and the dangers of state coercion when based on uncertain evidence. It concludes that institutional prudence and respect for individual liberty must prevail in the face of scientific uncertainty.  
format Article
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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spelling doaj-art-4796ba60119446b0a51254339dc089af2025-08-20T02:46:32ZporInstituto Mises BrasilMises2318-08112594-91872025-07-011310.30800/mises.2025.v13.1611Public Policy and Methodological MyopiaMarcos Giansante0https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8441-0057Instituto Mises Brasil, São Paulo, Brasil The 2023 systematic review published by the Cochrane Library on the use of physical barriers to contain respiratory viruses became a landmark in the scientific and political debate surrounding non-pharmaceutical interventions during pandemics. This article analyzes the content and implications of the Cochrane Library (2023) study through the lens of Austrian epistemology, highlighting the limits of empirical knowledge in complex social phenomena, the risks of scientistic pretension in public policy formulation, and the dangers of state coercion when based on uncertain evidence. It concludes that institutional prudence and respect for individual liberty must prevail in the face of scientific uncertainty.   https://www.revistamises.org.br/misesjournal/article/view/1611Austrian Schoolstate coercionpandemicepistemology
spellingShingle Marcos Giansante
Public Policy and Methodological Myopia
Mises
Austrian School
state coercion
pandemic
epistemology
title Public Policy and Methodological Myopia
title_full Public Policy and Methodological Myopia
title_fullStr Public Policy and Methodological Myopia
title_full_unstemmed Public Policy and Methodological Myopia
title_short Public Policy and Methodological Myopia
title_sort public policy and methodological myopia
topic Austrian School
state coercion
pandemic
epistemology
url https://www.revistamises.org.br/misesjournal/article/view/1611
work_keys_str_mv AT marcosgiansante publicpolicyandmethodologicalmyopia