ABSTRACT
The search for scientific bases for confronting problems of social policy is bound to fail, because of
the nature of these problems. They are "wicked" problems, whereas science has developed to deal
with "tame" problems. Policy problems cannot be definitively described. Moreover, in a pluralistic
society there is nothing like the undisputable public good; there is no objective definition of equity;
policies that respond to social problems cannot be meaningfully correct or false; and it makes no
sense to talk about "optinaal solutions" to social probIems unless severe qualifications are imposed
first. Even worse, there are no "solutions" in the sense of definitive and objective answers