Citizen science: scientific plurality and critical thinking

In this paper we explore how citizen science promotes epistemic improvement both in scientific institutions and in society at large. In this sense, we offer a characterization of citizen science and show how the participation of non-specialists can contribute to epistemic strengthening through plurality. Furthermore, we examine how the inclusion of members of society in scientific research can foster epistemic improvement of individuals, by promoting critical thinking. We conclude by pointing out the fact that citizen science can optimize these kinds of epistemic improvement by designing projects that, in addition to their scientific objectives, are aimed at attaining these goods.