Beyond post-modernist criticism versus the scientific method

We live in a very special time, perhaps a hinge in human history. We could argue that today, for the first time, we are realizing the dreams of the Enlightenment. The scientific method has produced enough objective knowledge that we are able to develop tools enabling us tinker with nature, to mimic and substitute nature. Technology underpins the unique power we have developed to use, and act on, Nature by our designs and choices. We could start working to reverse human footprint in the environment and global climate. However, we also live unique political and sociological times marked by a general feeling of distrust in science and scholarly expertise in any technical field, and more generally by an anti-establishment feeling. These are times of tribalism, relative truths, and false news. So precisely when technology has brought us to the unfolding of the tragedy of the global commons, it appears that there are no chances to develop the instruments to act. These are, therefore, very special times indeed since the will to recognize what really matters does not exist, our technologies can cause more externalities than ever before and can introduce new unnatural entities to the natural heritage of humankind, the commons.