| Peer-Reviewed

Basic Ethical Principles for the Development of Science (Sociology of R. K. Merton)

Received: 9 November 2022     Accepted: 6 June 2023     Published: 20 June 2023
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the concept of one of the most influential American sociologists of science of the 20th century, R. K. Merton. According to his teachings, the ethos of science is an emotional set of values and norms, which is considered mandatory for scientists. Norms are expressed in the form of prescriptions, preferences, permissions and prohibitions. With the growth of social conflict, divergences of norms, and ways of thinking of people develop to such an extent that the former orientation of these groups is overshadowed by great differences. They are formed in terms of institutional values. R. K. Merton identified universalism, unselfishness, skepticism, and collectivism as the basic norms of science. Ideas R. K. Merton on scientific norms are of particular relevance in those conditions when the very fact of contacts with representatives of the science of another state can turn out to be a turning point, if not tragic, in the fate of a particular scientist. Merton played a defining role in the development of sociology and philosophy of science in the post-war "golden period" of its construction, and still has great potential to contribute to modern discussions. Norms acquire particular relevance in those conditions when the very fact of contacts with representatives of the science of another state can turn out to be a turning point, if not tragic, in the fate of a particular scientist.

Published in Humanities and Social Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.hss.20231103.13
Page(s) 81-85
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Philosophy and Sociology of Science, Norms of Science, Universalism, Disinterest, Skepticism, Collectivism, Cultural Conditions, Existential Factors of Scientific Activity

References
[1] Blau P. Structural Constraints and Opportunities: Merton's Contributions to General Theory. // ed. by J. Clark, C. Modgil & S. Modgil. Robert K. Merton: Consensus and Controversy. London, New York & Philadelphia, PA: Falmer Press: 1990. P. 141-155.
[2] Calhoun C. Introduction. On Merton's legacy and contemporary sociology // Robert K. Merton: sociology of science and sociology as science / ed. by C. Calhoun. - N.- Y.: Columbia university press, 2010. - P. 10-54.
[3] Crothers Ch. Reintroducing Robert K. Merton. L.: Routledge. 2021. 186 P.
[4] Fox M. F. R. K. Merton - Life time of influence // Scientometrics, 2004. Vol. 60, No. 1 P. 47-50.
[5] Knafl K. A. Promoting academic integrity in qualitative research // Critical issues in qualitative research methods. ed. by Morse J. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 1994. - P. 357-375.
[6] Merton R. K. The Sociology of Science. - Chicago: The univ. of Chicago press. 1973. 636 P.
[7] Merton, R. K. Priorities in scientific discovery: A chapter in the sociology of science // American Sociological Review. 1957. Vol. 22. P. 635-659.
[8] Sica A. Robert К Merton // ed. by R. Stones. Key Sociological Thinkers. London: MacMillan. 2007. P. 111-123.
[9] Simonson P. Introduction // ed. by R. K. Merton. Mass Persuasion: The Social Psychology of a War Bond Drive. New York: Howard Fertig. 2004. P. 1-2.
[10] Storer N. W. Introduction // Merton R. K. The Sociology of Science. - Chicago: The univ. of Chicago press. 1973. P.i-xxxi.
[11] Sankey H. Kuhn, Coherentism and Perception // ed. by Giri L. etc. Perspectives on Kuhn. Springer, 2023. P. 1-15.
[12] Levit G. S. Ernst Mayr’s Critique of Thomas Kuhn // Epistemology & Philosophy of Science, 2022. Vol. 59, No. 4. P. 163-180. DOI: 10.5840/eps202259463.
[13] Cramer J., Kempen L. Toulmin and beyond: structuring and analyzing argumentation //Conference: Twelfth Congress of the European Society for Research in Mathematics Education (CERME12) 2022. – Mode of access: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03746876.
[14] Kuby D., Fraser P. Feyerabend on the Quantum Theory of Measurement: A Reassessment // International Studies in the Philosophy of Science, 2021. – Vol. 35, No. 1. DOI: 10.1080/02698595.2022.2067811.
[15] Trevino A J. Review of “Reintroducing Robert K. Merton” // Social Forces, 2022. – Vol. 101 (2). DOI: 10.1093/sf/soac078.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Letov Oleg Vladimirovich. (2023). Basic Ethical Principles for the Development of Science (Sociology of R. K. Merton). Humanities and Social Sciences, 11(3), 81-85. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20231103.13

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Letov Oleg Vladimirovich. Basic Ethical Principles for the Development of Science (Sociology of R. K. Merton). Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2023, 11(3), 81-85. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20231103.13

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Letov Oleg Vladimirovich. Basic Ethical Principles for the Development of Science (Sociology of R. K. Merton). Humanit Soc Sci. 2023;11(3):81-85. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20231103.13

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.hss.20231103.13,
      author = {Letov Oleg Vladimirovich},
      title = {Basic Ethical Principles for the Development of Science (Sociology of R. K. Merton)},
      journal = {Humanities and Social Sciences},
      volume = {11},
      number = {3},
      pages = {81-85},
      doi = {10.11648/j.hss.20231103.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20231103.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hss.20231103.13},
      abstract = {The article is devoted to the analysis of the concept of one of the most influential American sociologists of science of the 20th century, R. K. Merton. According to his teachings, the ethos of science is an emotional set of values and norms, which is considered mandatory for scientists. Norms are expressed in the form of prescriptions, preferences, permissions and prohibitions. With the growth of social conflict, divergences of norms, and ways of thinking of people develop to such an extent that the former orientation of these groups is overshadowed by great differences. They are formed in terms of institutional values. R. K. Merton identified universalism, unselfishness, skepticism, and collectivism as the basic norms of science. Ideas R. K. Merton on scientific norms are of particular relevance in those conditions when the very fact of contacts with representatives of the science of another state can turn out to be a turning point, if not tragic, in the fate of a particular scientist. Merton played a defining role in the development of sociology and philosophy of science in the post-war "golden period" of its construction, and still has great potential to contribute to modern discussions. Norms acquire particular relevance in those conditions when the very fact of contacts with representatives of the science of another state can turn out to be a turning point, if not tragic, in the fate of a particular scientist.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Basic Ethical Principles for the Development of Science (Sociology of R. K. Merton)
    AU  - Letov Oleg Vladimirovich
    Y1  - 2023/06/20
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20231103.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.hss.20231103.13
    T2  - Humanities and Social Sciences
    JF  - Humanities and Social Sciences
    JO  - Humanities and Social Sciences
    SP  - 81
    EP  - 85
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8184
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20231103.13
    AB  - The article is devoted to the analysis of the concept of one of the most influential American sociologists of science of the 20th century, R. K. Merton. According to his teachings, the ethos of science is an emotional set of values and norms, which is considered mandatory for scientists. Norms are expressed in the form of prescriptions, preferences, permissions and prohibitions. With the growth of social conflict, divergences of norms, and ways of thinking of people develop to such an extent that the former orientation of these groups is overshadowed by great differences. They are formed in terms of institutional values. R. K. Merton identified universalism, unselfishness, skepticism, and collectivism as the basic norms of science. Ideas R. K. Merton on scientific norms are of particular relevance in those conditions when the very fact of contacts with representatives of the science of another state can turn out to be a turning point, if not tragic, in the fate of a particular scientist. Merton played a defining role in the development of sociology and philosophy of science in the post-war "golden period" of its construction, and still has great potential to contribute to modern discussions. Norms acquire particular relevance in those conditions when the very fact of contacts with representatives of the science of another state can turn out to be a turning point, if not tragic, in the fate of a particular scientist.
    VL  - 11
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Department of Philosophy, Institute of Scientific Information on Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation

  • Sections