La quatrième dimension de « la structure normative de la science »

Is research serving a military purpose compatible with the scientific ethos as described by Robert K. Merton in 1942? First of all, after recalling its main characteristics, the author distinguishes four dimensions to this ethos: technical rule, community standard, moral value and political ideal. T...

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Main Author: Jean-Michel Chaumont
Format: Article
Language:fra
Published: Association Internationale des Sociologues de Langue Française 2020-05-01
Series:Sociologies
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journals.openedition.org/sociologies/13334
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author Jean-Michel Chaumont
author_facet Jean-Michel Chaumont
author_sort Jean-Michel Chaumont
collection DOAJ
description Is research serving a military purpose compatible with the scientific ethos as described by Robert K. Merton in 1942? First of all, after recalling its main characteristics, the author distinguishes four dimensions to this ethos: technical rule, community standard, moral value and political ideal. The latter is the subject of a particularly clear explanation in the book entitled La morale de la science by the French sociologist Albert Bayet, also a founding member of the Union Rationaliste. Secondly, we examine the evolution of the ethos as it has been analysed by the sociologists of science over the last three decades: it emerges that the Mertonian ethos has given way to a "post-academic" ethos at the antipodes of the first. This evolution could explain the lack of reaction to the announcement of future European funding for research with a military purpose. In conclusion, one wonders what would be the 4th dimension of the contemporary scientific ethos; one wonders in particular about the missions of sociology in the emerging configuration; one is puzzled that a section of critical sociology reinforces rather than resists the ethnocentric tendencies currently at work.
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spelling doaj.art-bc44f1b90cfb49049e7a8031926366622022-12-21T19:17:01ZfraAssociation Internationale des Sociologues de Langue FrançaiseSociologies1992-26552020-05-01La quatrième dimension de « la structure normative de la science »Jean-Michel ChaumontIs research serving a military purpose compatible with the scientific ethos as described by Robert K. Merton in 1942? First of all, after recalling its main characteristics, the author distinguishes four dimensions to this ethos: technical rule, community standard, moral value and political ideal. The latter is the subject of a particularly clear explanation in the book entitled La morale de la science by the French sociologist Albert Bayet, also a founding member of the Union Rationaliste. Secondly, we examine the evolution of the ethos as it has been analysed by the sociologists of science over the last three decades: it emerges that the Mertonian ethos has given way to a "post-academic" ethos at the antipodes of the first. This evolution could explain the lack of reaction to the announcement of future European funding for research with a military purpose. In conclusion, one wonders what would be the 4th dimension of the contemporary scientific ethos; one wonders in particular about the missions of sociology in the emerging configuration; one is puzzled that a section of critical sociology reinforces rather than resists the ethnocentric tendencies currently at work.http://journals.openedition.org/sociologies/13334scientific ethosEuropean Defence Fundethics of researchMertonrationalismpost colonialism
spellingShingle Jean-Michel Chaumont
La quatrième dimension de « la structure normative de la science »
Sociologies
scientific ethos
European Defence Fund
ethics of research
Merton
rationalism
post colonialism
title La quatrième dimension de « la structure normative de la science »
title_full La quatrième dimension de « la structure normative de la science »
title_fullStr La quatrième dimension de « la structure normative de la science »
title_full_unstemmed La quatrième dimension de « la structure normative de la science »
title_short La quatrième dimension de « la structure normative de la science »
title_sort la quatrieme dimension de la structure normative de la science
topic scientific ethos
European Defence Fund
ethics of research
Merton
rationalism
post colonialism
url http://journals.openedition.org/sociologies/13334
work_keys_str_mv AT jeanmichelchaumont laquatriemedimensiondelastructurenormativedelascience