#  Shai Dromi (Harvard University) 

 



####  calendar\_today Date and Time 

 **October 24, 2025** 

 12:00PM - 01:30PM EDT 

####  pin\_drop Location 

 **WJH 1550**  

For the Zoom link email jviator@fas.harvard.edu

 

 

 



 

**Mapping Moral Boundaries: Historical Change and Justification in Sociological Practice**

This paper explores how sociologists have historically justified what qualifies as legitimate and valuable research. Drawing on a conceptual framework that identifies “moral repertoires”—the diverse ways academics argue for the worth or limits of particular research programs—the paper examines over a century of presidential addresses from the American Sociological Association to trace shifting appeals to values such as methodological rigor, civic engagement, and advocacy for marginalized voices. The findings reveal that core standards of legitimacy have adapted over time, reflecting both internal disciplinary dynamics and external social and political pressures. Periods of stability alternate with moments of contestation, during which new moral priorities emerge and redefine the field’s aims. By studying these changes, the paper demonstrates how ethical boundaries within a discipline are historically construed and often form sites of debate—suggesting that understanding the past moral justifications of the social sciences is crucial to interpreting their present and future research directions.



 

 



 

 

 Share on:- [     Facebook ](#)
- [     Twitter ](#)
- [     Linkedin ](#)
 


 Save: [ Add to calendar calendar\_today ](https://history-culture-society-workshop.sociology.fas.harvard.edu/node/1795856/event-feed.ics)  Copy link link