Reasons to Follow Safety Rules: Lab Jurisprudence in Disposing of a Piece of Alkali Metal

The belief that a good law demands preemptive obedience to maintain its stability and reliability seems to run counter to scientific critical thinking, which is to think independently and question assumptions. This study discusses possible decisions by different laboratories with different research purposes in disposing of an alkali metal. Through the analysis, we consider why scientists follow or violate relevant safety rules. Using Joseph Raz’s service conception of authority and legal philosophers’ observations, we have found that to reduce the risk of accidents caused by professional autonomy and rational noncompliance, the academic community should focus on improving and deferring to the preemptive qualified legislative authority, which should exercise its power cautiously to avoid marginalizing public interests.