默顿科学社会学:当前困境与未来趋向

On the current dilemma and future trend of Merton's sociology of science

目前,科学社会学领域的两大派别——默顿学派与SSK学派的科学社会研究均处于困顿状态。基于实证主义科学观,默顿科学社会学只关注科学社会结构的研究,其悬置科学知识的做法成为SSK攻击的把柄,SSK的批判使默顿学派在痛苦中反思、调整自己。与此同时,SSK突出强调社会维度的决定作用的相对主义倾向对理性标准构成了巨大威胁,受到传统科学哲学家和科学社会学家的强烈批判,其强纲领研究进路在方法论上还遭遇到了反身性难题。默顿科学社会学的精神实质是捍卫和阐扬科学的理性与客观性,其大方向是正确的,SSK并不能否定默顿科学社会学的存在价值。此外,默顿科学社会学与SSK虽然同属于科学的社会研究领域,但它们在认识论上的分歧却无法调和,在二者之间找到共同点达成一致的希望渺茫。在未来的较长一段时期内,默顿科学社会学大概会在与SSK和后现代科学哲学保持必要的张力中为自己开辟前行的道路。

Mertonian school and SSK school has long been the two major factions in the field of Sociology of Science.Currently,social studies of science of the two schools are both in the plight.Based on scientific view of positivism,Merton＇s sociology of science is only concerned with social structure of science.The practice of suspending scientific knowledge becomes the handle of attack from SSK,which makes the Mertonian School reflect and adjust theirselves painfully.Simultaneously,SSK highlights the decision of the social dimension.The relativism tendency poses a major threat to the rational standard,attacked Fiercly by the traditional philosophers of science and sociologists of science.The methodology of its strong program＇s research line faces the problem of reflexivity.The spiritual essence of Merton＇s thoughts is to defend and advocate rationality and objectivity of science,whose basic orientation is right.SSK can＇t deny the value of Merton＇s sociology of science.Furthermore,Merton＇s sociology of science and SSK belong to the field of Social Studies of Science,but their epistemological differences are irreconcilable.There is no hope to reach agreement on the common ground between the two.During a longer period of time in the future,Merton＇s sociology of science may open up the road ahead for itself by maintaining the necessary tension with SSK and postmodern philosophy of science.