ABSTRACT
Mertonian formulations are unfortunately undervalued in contem porary debates in general social theory. This is largely due to the way in which Professor Merton works. Let me briefly sketch an analogy of the overall organization of Merton’s very large stock of ideas. It is unlike the disorderly bedrooms of my children with their scattered heaps of untidy clothes. No, Merton is very careful in folding up his clothes neatly. But he does tend to leave them scattered about all around the room. What is needed is for the underlying semiconscious plan which I have, on occasion, had the temerity to attempt to scold Professor Merton for not being more systematic with the wider frame works which undergird his more specific insights. I have as much success as I do in encouraging my children to tidy their rooms. Per haps his style is similar to that of Goffman, who had a similar ability to fashion creative analytical insights, but is frustrating to systematize.
