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Quote by Robert K. Merton

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Robert K. Merton
Robert K. Merton

Robert K. Merton was a prominent sociologist of science, born on July 4, 1910, and passed away on February 23, 2003. His research focused on the sociology of science, offering profound insights into the production of scientific knowledge, the behavior of scientists, and the relationship between science and society. more

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“Science is teaching man to know and reverence truth, and to believe that only so far as he knows and loves it can he live worthily on earth, and vindicate the dignity of his spirit.”

KnowsMenLoveBelieveTruthEarthScienceSpiritKnowledgeTeachingDignityAnd LoveAccountsReverence
Book:Where are We and Whither Tending?: Three Lectures on the Reality and Worth of Human Progress
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“Scientific modes of thought cannot be developed and become generally accepted unless people renounce their primary, unreflecting, and spontaneous attempt to understand all their experience in terms of its purpose and meaning for themselves. The development that led to more adequate knowledge and increasing control of nature was therefore, considered from one aspect, also a development toward greater self-control by men.”

PeopleKnowsMenSelfSciencePurposeTermKnowledgeGreaterDevelopmentAspectAcceptedPrimariesSelf ControlSpontaneousAdequateRenouncePurpose And MeaningAdequate Knowledge
Book:The history of manners
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“The first thing the reasonable man must do is to be content with a very little knowledge and a very great deal of ignorance. The second thing he must do is to make the utmost possible use of the knowledge he has and not waste his energy crying for the moon. The third thing he must do is try and see clearly where his knowledge ends and his ignorance begins.”

KnowsMenTryingFirstsLittlesEndsUseScienceEnergyDealsKnowledgeCryIgnoranceMoonWasteThirdsIgnorantReasonableLittle KnowledgeReasonable Man
Author:Arthur David Ritchie
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“The law is this: that each of our leading conceptions-each branch of our knowledge-passes successively through three different theoretical conditions: the Theological, or fictitious: the Metaphysical, or abstract; and the Scientific, or positive.”

KnowsDifferentLawScienceThreeKnowledgeConditionsAbstractBranchesConceptionMetaphysicalTheoreticalTheological
Book:Auguste Comte and Positivism: The Essential Writings
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“The question whether atoms exist or not... belongs rather to metaphysics. In chemistry we have only to decide whether the assumption of atoms is an hypothesis adapted to the explanation of chemical phenomena... whether a further development of the atomic hypothesis promises to advance our knowledge of the mechanism of chemical phenomena... I rather expect that we shall some day find, for what we now call atoms, a mathematico-mechanical explanation, which will render an account of atomic weight, of atomicity, and of numerous other properties of the so-called atoms.”

ScienceKnowledgeDevelopmentPromiseWeightAccountsPropertyExplanationAssumptionChemistryChemicalsAtomsMechanismMetaphysicsHypothesisAdapted
Author:August Kekule
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“The science and technology which have advanced man safely into space have brought about startling medical advances for man on earth. Out of space research have come new knowledge, techniques and instruments which have enabled some bedridden invalids to walk, the totally deaf to hear, the voiceless to talk, and, in the foreseeable future, may even make it possible for the blind to "see."”

MenMayEarthScienceSpaceWalksKnowledgeTechnologyPossibilityResearchAccountsInstrumentsBlindMedicineTechniqueMedicalDeafScience And TechnologyVoicelessNew KnowledgeMedical Advances
Author:Hubertus Strughold
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