Science, Progress, and The Desire for Credit

Kevin Zollman (Carnegie Mellon University)

ABSTRACT: Since the pioneering work of sociologist Robert Merton, scholars have been interested in how the desire for credit and acclaim influences science. For many decades, study of scientific motivation was mostly confined to sociologists and cultural studies. In recent years, philosophers have become intrigued. In this talk I argue that understanding acclaim and credit is intricately connected to both normative and descriptive philosophy of science. I will point to what is known – and what we still have to learn – about how the motivations of scientist inform the study of scientific method and the progress of science.