ABSTRACT
Robert K. Merton spent a lifetime trying to understand the role of science in the evolution of capitalism and democracy in the West. The broad mosaic of practical assumptions—naturalism in philosophy, welfare reform in economics, the democratic credo in politics, and the place of human agencies in fashioning history—made Merton the quintessential American sociologist. There can be no question that Merton's impact on sociology derived in no small part from his efforts to codify professional life. From defining the field and criteria of membership to delineating the ethical bases on which the field must proceed, Merton simply extended to sociology the values to which he had been committed to in a wide variety of fields, from nursing to communication. Merton's lifelong interest in the scientific revolution is characteristic of his ability to address big themes and bring them down to a bite size level.
