This section brings together all the analyses classified under this theme.
"Science, the Besieged Citadel" by Jacques Robert denounces the abuses affecting science and reason: the pervasive influence of ideology on critical analysis, numerous unpunished frauds, and the impostures of pseudoscience, with potentially serious consequences for society as a whole and the credibility of scientists. A review by Claudio Rubiliani.
Three statements by Emmanuel Macron on regional languages, African Francophonie, and Arabic in France reveal the same underlying confusion: that of speaking about the French language without considering it as a language of civilization. Regional languages were not enemies of the nation; the demographic vitality of French in Africa does not erase its French history; the presence of Arabic in France cannot, on its own, redefine our language policy. Defending French does not mean rejecting other languages, but rather remembering that a shared language is also a memory, a requirement, and a discipline of the mind.
In a brief, humorous, and caustic autobiographical account, Jacques Robert denounces the intimidation that conference organizers are subjected to at the hands of zealous sycophants. The new cancer culture?
Pierre Rochette takes a harsh look back at his 44-year career, denouncing the rise of a cumbersome and absurd bureaucracy that seriously hinders scientific research, academic freedom and the functioning of higher education in France.
Jacques Robert denounces the ideological instrumentalization of science and protests against those who want to remove the human and social sciences (HSS) from the CNRS. Just as much as the so-called "hard" sciences, the HSS make a major contribution to knowledge of the world.
In "The Hippocratic Sermon," Caroline Éliacheff and Céline Masson denounce the ideological excesses of transaffirmative medicine, particularly among minors, practices that run counter to traditional medical ethics and are sources of serious physical and psychological harm. Drawing on concrete cases, historical analyses, and the Cass report, they call for rigorous remedicalization based on psychology, clinical prudence, and child protection. A review by Emmanuelle Hénin.
Stand up for Science: A generous mobilization in favor of threatened American researchers… that we had not seen at work in favor of those who were ostracized in the past for crimes of opinion. Ideological prejudices and political correctness harm science! Beware of militant actions that undermine scientific rigor…
Consent, often considered a purely human concept, also exists in the animal kingdom, but in varied and sometimes brutal forms. Some species use deceptive seduction strategies, others practice coercion. However, humans seem to be the only species to mutilate or veil their females to assert power, raising the question of their own absurdity.
A comic strip supported by the Ministry of Higher Education explains how to identify a reliable scientific study. However, the portrayal of the charlatan as an old white scientist sparks debate about stereotypes and the message conveyed. Finally, the comic strip raises a broader question: why does science education seem to be neglected in favor of other educational priorities?
“We are losing science,” warns Weiss, who sees this politicization as an existential threat. “When remains are buried or destroyed, when museums censor their exhibits, there is nothing left to study. Unlike other disciplines, once anthropological data is lost, it cannot be recreated.”
Elizabeth Weiss nevertheless remains attached to the idea of an anthropology anchored in science and the exploration of the past. But her testimony, opposing scientific rigor to identity pretensions, suggests an uncertain future for a discipline in search of meaning.