It's somewhat upsetting that we refer to observations and assumptions derived from the practice of science as science itself in the first place.

Or perhaps that we use a word that already meant 'body of knowledge' for the name of a method that isn't actually about knowledge, but about exploring what we DON'T know.

Probably boils down to unfortunate timing with the advent of epistemological skepticism coming largely after the formulation of the method.

That, or just the general antipathy for truth by the powers that should not be.