Considerations on the Education of Prospective Scientists: The Learning and Social Contracts

Abstract

We claim that prospective scientists sign a social contract as part of their training. The social contract naturally addresses matters concerning communication among scientists and the various forms of social recognition. However, probably emerging from social pressure, quality control of the scientific effort is frequently incorporated into the social contract ruling over, and sometimes against, the mastering of metacognitive knowledge in which scientists are supposed to excel.
This fact influences the formation of prospective scientists and consolidates “bad habits” hiddenly transmitted from their “local community” to students.