Both the reductionism and instrumentality of scientific practice makes a natural appeal to instrumental manipulation, which in turn increases the risk of producing "broken cultures" in the future

The war had changed Gregory Bateson, but perhaps more important for Bateson's change in perspective was that the war had changed science. Science was too often "soaked in the habit of instrumental thought," favoring outcomes that maximize singular goals rather than recognizing a variety of values. Both the reductionism and instrumentality of scientific practice makes a natural appeal to instrumental manipulation, which in turn increases the risk of producing "broken cultures" in the future. A broken culture loses all its ability to value those material or spiritual goods that make life meaningful to us all (Bateson 1947).