Researcher as Subject and Authority of Norm

Abstract

In this report, we examine the activities of a researcher through the lens of the universal category of a norm, which reflects the idea of the due state of affairs for a class of objects and has a set of properties and functions inherent in any manifestation of the norm. The activity of a present-day scientist is, on the one hand, the object of normalization by the state authorities and social institutions. On the other hand, when acquiring new knowledge, a scientist participates in creating new norms that can affect the lives of many people. Consequently, a scientist in the modern society is simultaneously a source, or authorityof some norms and thesubjectof other norms. The role of a scientist as the subject or authority of a norm becomes apparent when a norm fulfills its main functions, namely informational, forecasting, regulatory and measuring (evaluation) ones. Each of the functions of a norm is implemented because a norm has a set of properties common to the whole category as well as due to the interrelation and interdependence of the functions themselves. A state of affairs compliant with the norm does not usually attract attention; therefore, it is expedient to study the action of a norm using the cases where the norm is not followed. An anomalous situation emerges, if a norm does not fulfill one or several of its functions, because some of the attributes of the situation contradict a certain categorical property of the norm.