Ben Ari, Tamara; Berné, Olivier y Perez Tisserant, Emmanuelle (2026). Le moment orwellien. La science face aux nouveaux obscurantismes. Seuil

Abstract

This text presents a review of Le moment orwellien, a work that examines contemporary attacks on science and academic freedom across various international contexts. Drawing on George Orwell’s concepts—newspeak, doublethink, and the manipulation of the past—the authors interpret an ongoing process of erosion of scientific knowledge alongside the expansion of authoritarian dynamics. The review synthesizes the book’s structure and main arguments, highlighting its timeliness and explanatory power. It also introduces several critical reservations regarding its normative approach and its strong defense of science, which may understate certain risks inherent to scientific activity itself.