by Throughout “The Normative Structure of Science” Robert Merton introduces and explains the sets of institutional imperatives that we refer to as the Mertonian norms. These four institutional imperatives help comprise what Merton uses to define the ethos of modern science, as he explains throughout the reading. By looking at cultural, political, and institutional influences Merton was able to describe a sociology of science that had never been done before. The four characteristics that he discusses throughout this reading are: universalism, communism, disinterestedness, and organized skepticism. I will explain these ethos of science that Merton describes, and share how there are many outside influences that impact the legitimacy of these norms in the modern world.
The first institutional imperative Merton describes is universalism. I understand universalism as allowing science to be a universal intellect regardless of race, class, gender, or nationality. Anyone who wants to pursue scientific studies should be able to, and this should be able to happen regardless of their cultural background. Merton explains how the ethos of science is at risk when a culture does not stand by universalism when he says: “Ethnocentrism is not compatible with universalism”. This quote explains the main threat to this norm, as in the modern world many people still have flawed ethnocentric views of the world. People who hold these views will continue to discriminate based on race, class, gender, or nationality, prohibiting an inclusive universal scientific community.
The second imperative described is communism. Also referred to as communalism, this can be described as no one claiming ownership of a certain piece of knowledge. In an ideal world all scientists would have equal access to materials and tools as this would lead to collective cooperation. This cooperation would allow scientists to be rewarded for their achievements not through private ownership, but through due recognition and national pride. Communalism is not the reality throughout the entire scientific community, as capitalism has created many discrepancies in the conception of intellectual property. Merton describes this limitation by pointing towards the US v American Bell Telephone Co case from 1897. Included in the case it states: “The inventor is one who has discovered something of value. It is his absolute property. He may withhold the knowledge of it from the public.” Patents reflect this threat to communalism, and to this day we see inventors debating whether or not to patent their breakthroughs ideas.
The third institutional imperative is disinterestedness. This norm explains that scientists should conduct their research and work for the collective benefit of the scientific community as a whole. They should not have selfish interests while conducting their work, but have a desire to produce knowledge to further humanity. This is very flawed in the modern age as scientists have many pressures that lead them to strive for personal gain rather than benefiting the scientific community. Scientists are credited for the quantity of their work just as much as quality nowadays, and competing for awards or research funding has made many scientists be selfish in their studies.
The last contributing aspect to the ethos of science that Merton discusses is called organized skepticism. This defines how scientific work should be subject to a review process that is both strenuous and informative. By allowing scientists’ work to undergo many peer reviews and duplications the community ensures that the claims that have been made are correct. I believe that this is the most solidified of the four norms Merton describes as this is still a backbone of the scientific community. Peer review and duplication are essential for any scientific work to come to publication, and they will continue to be utilized as long as knowledge production is occurring.