Has Science's Freedom Become Its Downfall?

Writing in The New Atlantis, Daniel Sarewitz has a lengthy essay on why science, "pride of modernity, our one source of objective knowledge, is in deep trouble." He argues that science, rather than being disconnected from practical purposes, is most effective when it has a goal. Sarewitz cites Department of Defense projects as examples, and notes the recent reproducibility crisis as a sign of failure.

These are important points, but one of his overarching themes jumped out at me as another...