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

Letov Oleg Vladimirovich

doi:doi:10.11648/j.hss.20231103.13

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

Letov Oleg Vladimirovich

Published in Humanities and Social Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 3)

Received: 9 November 2022 Accepted: 6 June 2023 Published: 20 June 2023

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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), 2024. 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.

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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

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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

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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

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@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}
}

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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
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Author Information

Letov Oleg Vladimirovich

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

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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

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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

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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

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@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}
}

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