默顿学派科学体制运行机制的理想图景面面观

A Comprehensive Study of the Blueprint of Merton School's Operational Mechanism of the Science System

默顿学派所描绘的科学体制运行机制理想图景的核心思想乃是强调科学的自主性。其基本观点是:科学具有一套独特的社会规范、奖励制度、学术交流方式以及高度的社会分层等。对此,SSK学者提出了尖锐批评,认为默顿的科学规范理论是主观的、空想的,科学奖励的实质不是同行承认而是信用积累等。其实,SSK对社会变量的作用和科学理性的否定过了头。默顿学派的科学自主性思想对于马克思主义关于物质生产是科学发展根本动力的观点是一种有益的补充,而且,它和马克思主义科学观的科学自主性思想形成互补。前者强调了科学认识发展方面的自主性;后者强调了科学体制方面的自主性。它们分别从不同的侧面彰显着科学的理性精神,彼此映衬,相得益彰。

The Merton school takes the independence of science as the core of its sociology of science which upholds the following viewpoints： science has a unique set of social norms in the history; it has unique reward system and a highly efficient way of academic exchanges; scientific community has its critical social stratification, among others. SSK is highly critical of these views and argues that the theory of Merton＇ s scientific norms is subjective and unrealistic, pointing out that it is credit accumulation rather than peer recognition that proved to be the essence of scientific reward. SSK negates scientific rationality and the effect of social variables excessively. As a matter of fact, the Mertonian idea of scientific independence represents useful addition to the Marxist view that material production is the fundamental driving force of scientific development. The Mertonian norms of science and the scientific view of Marxism are complementary. The former stresses the independence of scientific awareness while the latter emphasizes the independence of scientific institutions. Both highlight the rational spirit of science from different aspects and thus complement each other.