著者

吉岡 斉

出版者

社会・経済システム学会

雑誌

社会・経済システム (ISSN:09135472)

巻号頁・発行日

no.5, pp.23-28, 1987-11-01

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The concept of the 'open-system'is very useful in the sociology of science.This article has two main purposes.First, to propose an open-system model of modern scientific enterprise.And second, based on this model, to give a theoretical insight into the 'uncontrollableness'of modern science.According to this 'open-system'model, the most fundamental goal of scientific enterprise is to keep itself stationary.Robert Merton pointed out that the institutional goal of science is the extension of certified knowledge.However, the extension of knowledge is not the real goal of science, but the natural outcome of the operation of scientific knowledge production system.This system have to produce ever new and powerful knowledge constantly.As a result, scientific production system should be inherently expansive, or expansionist.Max Weber pointed out that our ability to control the conditions of our external world constantly increases with the advancement of scientific knowledge.In reality, the situation is quite the contrary;the scientific production system produces more uncontrollable power than power for control.To make matters worse, 'privatized science'has been growing rapidly.The greater part of scientific system is monopolized by powerful interest groups.Therefore, it is increasingly difficult to apply control over scientific production system.There are two main obstacles to control the scientific system;the inherent expansiveness and 'privatization'of this system.Therefore, it is very difficult to control the anarchistic power of science, unless we radically change the structure of the present scientific production system.