Mass and individual in the image of science: emphasis on the representation of academic discourse

The article examines certain aspects concerning correlations between the mass and the individual in the portrayal of modern science. The positions of some well-known figures in the cultural and historical academic space regarding the mass and individual in the image of science are given. The forming tendencies in the design of the substantive provisions of the image of Russian science are highlighted. As a specific feature, it is described as being of a mass nature. Emphasis is placed on the role of scientometric indicators as the quintessential interpretation of the quality of scientific creation. Examples are given that determine the scientometric significance of research, on the one hand, and leveling the substantive aspects of scientific creativity, on the other. It is noted that modern scientists are regularly forced to choose between immersing themselves in the study of the problem of scientific knowledge that interests them and demonstrating the conditional results of their activities to the public by indicating its compliance with all kinds of “pseudoscientific” indicators that determine many aspects of a scientist's life. The author concludes that the historical excursus he has undertaken demonstrates the need for modern scholars to pay attention to the search for new meanings in scientific activity.