Comment On The Contributions Of Robert K. Merton To The Development Of The Sociology Of Science.

One of the most step forwardstanding characteristics of the development of the Western societies since the assess of the Industrial Revolution was the key role played in them by science and technology , which had transformed almost all(prenominal) commonwealth of their life . The gradual accumulation of scientific familiarity (Kuhn , 1996 , pp .1-2 ) has lead to the military post that today technology enabled by scientific findings forms the backb whiz of the refining . In this regard , it is hard to overvalue the importance of the mensurable investigation of the care fores and mechanisms that keep scientific endeavours breathing out , and one of the outstanding figures of the twentieth snow in this d was Robert King Merton , an American sociologist who , among other things , is renowned for his elaboration of what has be en termed as the sociology of science . Let us overview the contributions of Robert K . Merton to the development of the sociology of scienceThe investigation of the social circumstances that enable or inhibit the bear on of obtaining of scientific knowledge was among the chief interests of Merton . In the first fractional of the 1940s he formulated the notion of the `ethos of science that pertains to the intrinsic social context with its own values in which scientific activities are taking place , and which shape the behaviour of scientists . What is primary(prenominal) in this respect is that Merton viewed scientists as concrete individuals with certain motivations , aspirations , and fears , which offers a way for micro-sociological interpretation of scientific activitiesAmong methodological innovations introduced to the field of sociology by Merton are his explanation of some of the causes underlying the scientific diversity , and the Mertonian norms that describe pecul iarities of science as we know it .

In simile to the first problem , Merton , akin to the well-known study by Max Weber linking Protestant ethic to the rise of the capitalistic economy , claims that a similar colligateion existed between the German Protestant pietism and English Puritanism , which were branches of Lutheranism that in the seventeenth coulomb protested against what they viewed as the dry and too general nature of Orthodox religious doctrines , and the establishment of the methodology of science based on the experimentation (Merton , 1993 . Also , among the reasons that promoted the rapid development of science Merton mentions the amassment of empiric data , and the improvement of experimental techniques (Merton , 1996 pp .223-240In their turn , the Mertonian norms stem from Merton`s interest in the culturally prescribed rules and values privileged the modern scientific environment which constitute the ethos of science . Merton throw out four imperatives of science formed on the foundation garment of the institutional aim of science that is to expand knowledge , and which meet with the technical and methodological means used to achieve this design . These imperatives areCommunalism as the principle of sharing of scientific knowledge in contrast to secrecy . From this principle a bunch of connect ones follows , such as the intolerance towards dishonesty , and the practice of skirmish match reviewsUniversalism as the two-sided maxim that on one turn over makes science open to...If you want to see a secure essay, order it on our website: OrderCustomPaper.com

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