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Accessibility & LanguageNews A Balanced Formula: Scientific Pathologies, Deviant Naturalism and the Research-Recommendation Gap in Infant Feeding
A Balanced Formula: Scientific Pathologies, Deviant Naturalism and the Research-Recommendation Gap in Infant Feeding
Oct
15
2025
Posted: 07:58 IST
Discipline of Philosophy Speakers Series
Presents
A Balanced Formula: Scientific Pathologies, Deviant Naturalism and the Research-Recommendation Gap in Infant Feeding
by
Claire Moriarty (Trinity College Dublin)
Time: Thursday 16th October @ 1:00-2:30 pm (Lunch will be provided)
Location: Bridge Room, Hardiman Building
Abstract: Health guidance from institutions such as the World Health Organization or the UK’s National Health Service aim to reflect scientific evidence in their recommendations. Yet there are often gaps between the strength, diversity and breadth of evidence and the conclusiveness of recommendations they issue. There are also further gaps between this evidence and broader public discussion and dissemination of scientific recommendations. We analyse this problem by concentrating on one instance of the research-recommendation gap as it arises in infant feeding guidance. After outlining key events in the relationship between scientific research and institutional recommendations on feeding, we suggest reasons to be cautious in drawing conclusions from research to-date in this area before noting the existence of a research-recommendation gap in infant feeding: formal guidelines emphasise exclusive breastfeeding with a degree of confidence that seems unwarranted by evidence. Discussion over infant feeding is clouded by an inconsistent version of naturalism, and we thus offer an analysis of naturalism that is sensitive to the political-scientific complexity of the issue.
