Opportunism is a less widely admired quality. Its negative connotation extends beyond the crude "smash and grab" opportunism that most of society condemns. A scientist who has been labeled an opportunist bears some tarnish on his or her reputation. Some would maintain that opportunistic behavior in any endeavor, including in science, is most undesirable. Generally, commitment implies high moral purpose, while in many contexts opportunism suggests that morality has been set aside.
However, the apparently strict dichotomy between notions of commitment and opportunism loses its sharpness under close examination. If a more literal meaning is given to opportunism-- defining it simply as the taking of an opportunity--the negative implication is diminished. In this more benign sense, opportunism can play an important role in the conduct of science, and that role should be looked at carefully.
There are good reasons why the relationship between commitment and opportunism in science should be ...
