7. Epilogue

The epilogue examines two external pressures on science: the rise of AI and the surge of anti-scientific sentiment in liberal democracies. It argues that AI, while promising tools for improving reproducibility and accessibility, also amplifies existing risks—facilitating fraud, opacity, and the unchecked proliferation of novelty. These challenges, however, do not alter the nature of science’s poly-crisis; they intensify the need for systemic reforms outlined earlier. The chapter also warns that political attacks on science—through censorship, funding cuts, and ideological interference—pose an even greater threat. If reform proposals are misappropriated to justify centralized control, the cure could become worse than the disease—a risk that underscores the urgency of safeguarding academic independence while pursuing change.