TFF: "But a problem I think is worse is this: the deterioration of the scientific process... ...but simply because they made some philosopher happy."
I think the philosopher in question is the sum total of society, including its political representatives, and many scientists would agree that this "philosopher" can threaten to undermine confidence in the scientific method, as observable by what amounts to an on-going experiment in the USA.
TFF: "I strongly suspect that one of the implicit assumptions of modern ethics is wrong; namely, that it's even conceptually possible to align reality into categorical imperatives."
Again, I'm not 100% sure of what that means but:
I think Terry has made an important point. Ethical values and standards are not static. They evolve. My own impression is that they are generally evolving for the better.
