The end of an epoch?

[aphar]

The last ~300 years ("the (pre-)modern period") is characterized by two major interconnected ideas:

1. Freedom of Speech
2. Scientific Method

Free exchange of ideas is fruitless without a method to determine which ideas work and which do not.
Advancement of science is impossible in isolation, without free conversation it withers away.
What we see today in the West is a Replication crisis in science (one of the sources is incomplete publication - not including raw data in published works) and a Believe in Science meme (especially beloved by those who deny basic biology and statistics) paired with suppression of dissent on social media (FB & Twitter) and web search where most people get (mis)informed.
The net result is that science is being transformed from a method to acquire knowledge to a religion/ideology used to justify government power grab.
I wonder is this is a permanent transformation of just a temporary aberration...

Comments

[ymarkov]

The powers that be are always inclined to use whatever tools are available to hold onto power. Used to be religion, now science (as a religion) has been coopted in its place. As long as science is financed by the government, the public isn't safe from this sort of manipulation.

[aphar]

Public financing of science is an absolute necessity. Free speech should be enough to protect from government interference.