1942年，默顿在《论科学与民主》一文中系统地阐述了科学活动的规范结构——普遍主义、公有性、无私利性、有组织的怀疑主义。

1942年，默顿在《科学的规范结构》一文中，将科学共同体的内部行为规范概括为普遍主义、公有主义、无私利性和有条理的怀疑精神，以此凸显科学所独有的文化和精神气质。1957年默顿又补充了独创性这一规范。

1、普遍主义规范强调科学内容和科学评价标准的客观性、普遍性

2、公有主义规范强调科学知识的公有性，强调科学知识是人类的共同财富。

3、无私利性规范要求科学家不应以科学活动谋取私利。

4、有条理的怀疑精神强调科学永恒的批判精神

5、独创性规范要求科学家只有发现了前人未发现的东西，做出了前人未曾做出的成果，其工作才会被认为对 科学的发展具有实质性的意义。

针对以上争论点，文章从默顿规范的社会学理论基础与哲学基础进行了剖析，并运用SSK的观点对默顿规范的局限性进行了说明。在对默顿规范局限性进行分析的基础上，文章认为应在科学实践、科学哲学、科学社会学不断发展的新背景下对默顿规范进行再思考，并提出了一些新的看法。

In nineteen forty-two, Merton systematically articulated his theory of scientific ethos, he said communism universalism disinterestedness and organized skepticism constituted the norms of science, however, this theory arouse a lot of controversial, then how many controversial points appeared ? what is the causes of the controversial? How to treat these controversial in a objective and right way? This paper try to answer these questions in a hesitative manner.The controversial points are summarized as the following: whether these norms can impose real effects on the scientists or not; can these norms singly insure the prosperity of science; whether these norms peculiar owned by the science; can these norms fully describe the real picture of science; whether the of norms are convincing.The paper tries to analyze the reasons why the theory of scientific norms arise a lot of controversial, in addition, the paper describes the limitations of the theory with the perspective of SSK. in the last chapter, the paper propose that we should rethink of the theory in new perspective as the practice of science the philosophy of science and the sociology of science have developed to a new stage.