the height of scientism

. . . was the early 20th century.

Social relations would be guided by scientific psychology; biological improvement by scientific eugenics; socio-economic transformation by Marx’s “scientific socialism;” advancements re: industrial efficiency by scientific Fordism; consumption patterns by scientific social engineering.

In its wake arose skepticism and reaction.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Abolition_of_Man

The final chapter describes a not-so distant future in which the values and morals of the majority are controlled by a small group who rule by a perfect understanding of scientific psychology. In surrendering rational reflection on their own motivations, the controllers will no longer be recognizably human, the controlled will be robot-like, and the Abolition of Man will have been completed.