Here, in order to make the principle clear, the distinction between open science and fenced science has been expressed starkly, in black and white. In society as it is, truth judgements are made in a holistic way, not by a computer algorithm capable of weighing all the evidence and concluding 'true' or 'false'. There can be no perfectly open science, nor is the boundary between 'inside' and 'outside' perfectly sharp and leak-proof. Even so, there is a very great difference between the claims of an open science project and the claims presented to the public by a fenced establishment. Open and Comprehensive Refereeing Refereeing is an important element of the overall critical process to which scientific knowledge claims must be subjected.
Scientists attach much importance to peer review.
It is, however, usually conducted very discreetly. Referees are nearly always anonymous, and their reports are seen only by a few insiders - authors, editors and adjudicators. Most scientists are keenly aware of the merits of peer review. They are, however, blind to fact that, when there is conflict between the peer group's interest and the public interest, discreet review by peers alone produces conclusions which favour the peer group . For this reason, peer review should be broadened and opened up.