Robert Merton and the Principle of Universalism in Science

The sociologist Robert Merton wrote in The Dark Days in 1942: "Acceptance or rejection of truth claims on lists of science does not depend on the personal or social traits of their owners; race, nationality, religion, social class, and personal qualities are thus irrelevant." Universalism is a principle that is noticeably absent from society at large, where stratification of all kinds is widespread. Class structures of one kind or another exist in all countries, and within them the neuroses and socialities, prestige and prestige are constantly stacked for all the rewards they can bring. The first is peer review, an elaborate process by which government funds are channeled to researchers. In the United States and most other countries, the government decides how much to spend on cancer, defense, and so forth; but within these broad categories, key decisions for those researchers should not be made by government officials. John Long’s case shows how prestige can brightly damage a scientific project that blinds reviewers and referees to its content.2 Long worked at the Massachusetts General Hospital, one of the world’s most prestigious research and teaching hospitals. More: https://braheen.com/publications/خونة-الحقيقة-الغش-والخداع-في-قاعات-العلم — Source: Published on Facebook's "Braheen Center" page