The Historical Basis Of The Scientific Ethos Proposed By Merton

The rise of modern science is closely related to its unique ethos. The scientific ethos is one of the eight themes about the sociology of science that Robert K. Merton had studied on. This article explores the historical basis of scientific ethos. Taking into account the environment of the time in which Merton proposed scientific ethos and his academic background, it can be said that the scientific ethos is certainly not Merton’s own primordial creation, but based on the deep historical and cultural accumulation of Western Europe.This article is mainly around the scientific ethos summed up by Merton. To find the source of cultural and historical basis of the scientific ethos, we should track back to European history. For understanding of the Merton scientific ethos historical basis, this article will be related the ancient Greek background of scientific ethos. After all, the ethos of modern science is conceived in ancient Greek civilization and then gradually formed in the modern historical and cultural context. Sutdying on the history of European medieval universities from the establishment to the struggle for academic freedom, we can find the buds of the scientific ethos embedded in the medieval universities. Elements of Disinterested, Organizations suspect and Communism are extremely similar with the scientific ethos put forwarded by Merton. This papers will concerned Merton’s dissertation, ending up with that scientific ethos is formed from the Puritan ethos and scientific ethos similarities potential confounders. The end of the article will ensure the sicientific ethos are formed in the anti-fascist background of the times and the academic environment. Scientific ethos proposed by Merdon does have its obvious political and important practical significance.