Applied sciences, yes, are often the hijacking of pure scientific method by self-serving concerns for material or political gain. Something similar might be said of philosophy. Nietzsche’s work, for example, was hijacked and manipulated by the Nazis to rationalize the questionable ethics of their sociopolitical agenda. Where the pursuit of knowledge is changing, is largely in the advancement of our capacity to apply it and with that advancement, comes the danger of that application becoming increasingly misguided.

Science will help to produce a fantastic military aircraft. Pay no mind, though, to the man behind the curtain, the questionable ethics of its intended application. Focus instead on what a terrific machine your tax dollars can produce.

The answers to this would seem to be mindfulness and vigilance. This is where the apparent decline in proportional support of study in humanities becomes dangerously unfortunate.