The optimistic view of the pessimist: Reply to critics

This paper provides short responses to the critics' comments on the article Communication of Scientists and New Information and Communication Technology (Notes from a Pessimist). Agreeing with the thesis that public control over the im-plementation of scientific projects is needed, the author notes that its functioning is hindered by the “illusion of understanding” of science. Relying on this illusion helps evade real public control. Furthermore, open access to scientific results only strengthens it. The development of technology science leads to the active formation of its media image. At the same time, scientists themselves are striving to withstand the increasing “illusion of understanding” along with the mediatization of science. As a result, science itself seeks to re-build the demarcation of communication tools.