The Four Norms Of Merton

In our reading for this week we talked about the four norms of Merton. This was first used in 1942. The norms are universalism, communism, disinterestedness, and organized skepticism. These were the keys to Merton social structure of science. Once learning about the four we can take those to learn how to interpret the norms, and use them in boundary work. Interpreting is not knowing the definition of these norms, but how they are used. Using them to connect other things in life and science. Which is what we read to be boundary works in the book. The first norms we read was universalism. Any theory we know or learned can be used around the world. No matter the race, religion, class, or nationality. For example, we all know that there is gravity. No matter what part of world we are in, people will all conclude that gravity affects us. We get this because science theories aren’t personal statements, but that they are true or false
Velikovsky case believed that people violated the norms when a higher norm was at stake. Mulkay saw this and realized that using the norms can cause the norms to be violated or not. Seeing these norms as resources can help with interpretation. Making claims and connection help produce Boundary works. People are drawing boundaries from any issue. We can use the norms and make a boundary that is local, historical, or antifoundational. These is one of the major parts of out reading. We learned what are the four norms that help us interpret the ways of science. Using the norms to learn how scientist work in our world. Knowing things in science are universal like the Bohr Model, and the result do not discriminate the any scientist. The finding should be found any every lab. Know we want to grow helps our result be valid. Scientist want their work to be known as disinterestedness, and organized skeptical helps keep people learning and question what is the norm in our