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Mertonian Norms

Mertonian Norms. STS 214 D. Gruber. Robert Merton. “The social structure of science lies in the ethos of science.” - So, what are the primary values of science?. Quote from Sismondo text, p . 23. Merton’s Four Norms of Science. Universalism Communism Disinterestedness

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Mertonian Norms

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  1. Mertonian Norms STS 214 D. Gruber

  2. Robert Merton • “The social structure of science lies in the ethos of science.” - So, what are the primary values of science? Quote from Sismondo text, p. 23

  3. Merton’s Four Norms of Science • Universalism • Communism • Disinterestedness • Organized Skepticism Image: Robert Mangold, Four Color Frame Painting, 1985

  4. Norm #1 • Universalism • Value: scientific claims need to stand independent of the people who make them • Underlying beliefs: • Scientific laws are true or false, so it shouldn’t matter who is stating them • Anyone is able, whether by accident or intent, to uncover scientific laws

  5. Norm #1 • What specific scientific practices does this value of universalism need / lead to? • Is this value of universalism undercut by the scientific practices that you know about?

  6. Norm #2 • Communism • Value: the products of science (knowledge) must be commonly owned (Sismondo, p. 24). • Underlying beliefs: • scientists shouldn’t be able to decide who can use their ideas since science is universal • and since science must “go on”; that is, make new knowledge and advance • Science is an inherently social activity (p. 24).

  7. Norm #2 • What specific scientific practices does this value of communism need / lead to? • Is this value of communism undercut by the scientific practices that you know about?

  8. Norm #3 • Disinterestedness • Underlying beliefs: • Scientists can disengage from their interests • Data can be obtained and disseminated without being infused with interests to the extent that a valid or verified finding deemed “true” is impossible • —Value: Scientists should make claims based on data obtained through checkable or “unbiased” methods, not based on interests Image: zazzle.com, t-shirts

  9. Norm #3 • What specific scientific practices does this value of disinterestedness need / lead to? • Is this value of disinterestedness undercut by the scientific practices that you know about?

  10. Norm #4 • Organized Skepticism • Value: Scientists should be skeptical and should (and should be able to) question claims publicly • Underlying beliefs: • Scientists don’t always get it right or have the fullest view of their own work • Science needs questions and rebuttals to find flaws • Scientists need freedom of speech and license for free maybe even wild intellectual investigation for their work (and everyone else’s) to benefit Image: svteach.wikispaces

  11. Norm #4 • What specific scientific practices does this value of skepticism need / lead to? • Is this value of skepticism undercut by the scientific practices that you know about?

  12. What’s functional about these Mertonian norms? • They work as guidelines for developing practices, and they work as ethical advice. • Let’s consider some cartoons to see if they can be indicators of popular views about these four norms. Look over the following cartoons and develop an analysis—see what they say/suggest about the behavior of scientists and try to draw connections to Merton’s four norms.

  13. Cartoon Time! Yeah!

  14. So what about cases when we don’t uphold the four norms? • Are the opposite of Merton’s norms common? That is, are secrecy, particularism, interestedness, and credulity common? And might they even be morally justifiable or defensible in some cases? • Consider the case of Immanuel Velikovsky from 1950.

  15. The Curious Case of Velikovsky • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worlds_in_Collision • Also see Sergio Sismondo’s discussion, p. 28-29 of your textbook

  16. What’s interesting here? 1) Velikovsky’s claims were called sensational because they violated the laws of mechanics. - thus, critics could argue they were upholding which Mertonian norms? 2) However, by joining an outcry that asks the publisher to drop the book, Velikovsky could claim that some Mertonian norms were being violated. - Which ones? 3) What about disinterestedness? - Which party (Velikovsky or his skeptics) could claim disinterestedness?

  17. Takeaways • Norms are “flexible” and need interpretation • Scientists can invoke norms OR invoke the need to break some norms in the interests of other norms, depending on the situation. • Consider secrecy, for example. • All in all, Merton’s norms help us to figure out “what science needs to be like,” but they don’t always match practice and can undergo some stretching. Their flexibility suggests caution in employing the overarching term “Science” in discussing norms; we would be better off looking at specific practices in specific instances of scientific activity.

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