The Philosophy Of Sir Francis Bacon

Let's Talk Philosophy2019-12-16

Sir Francis Bacon#Francis Bacon#Francis Bacon Quotes#Francis Bacon Philosophy#Francis Bacon Philosopher#Francis Bacon Scientific Method#Francis Bacon Accomplishments#Francis Bacon Contributions#Sir Francis Bacon Works#Scientific Revolution#The Four Idols#Philosophy#17th century philosophy#Novum Organum#Western Philosophy#Brett Flora#Let's Talk Philosophy#Will Durant on Francis Bacon#The Philosophy Of Sir Francis Bacon

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💫 Short Summary

In the 17th century, Sir Francis Bacon ignited a scientific revolution by introducing the inductive method of reasoning and emphasizing experimentation and careful recording of results. His method, which focused on observing nature and accumulating data, has led to significant improvements in human life through scientific invention. Bacon also identified and warned against four idols of false knowledge, emphasizing the need to set them aside in the pursuit of new knowledge.

✨ Highlights

📊 Transcript

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Introduction to Sir Francis Bacon and his contribution to the scientific revolution.

00:00

Sir Francis Bacon ignited the path to a scientific revolution by introducing the inductive method of reasoning.

He emphasized experimentation and the careful recording of results for future generations.

Bacon's method combined observing nature with the systematic accumulation of data.

✦

Bacon's scientific method in three main steps.

01:18

Accumulate specific empirical observations.

Classify facts into categories based on presence, absence, and varying degrees.

Reject notions that do not seem responsible and identify possible causes through examination.

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Bacon's categorization of false knowledge into four idols.

02:40

Idols of the Tribe: common false notions based on people's desires.

Idols of the Cave: errors arising from individual disposition.

Idols of the Marketplace: errors arising from flawed exchange between languages.

Idols of the Theater: intellectual progress hindered by old discoveries and philosophies.

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Bacon's belief in setting aside idols for the quest of knowledge.

04:09

Bacon emphasized examination over speculation.

He aimed to explain science with tangible proof instead of pure logic.

The speaker expresses a desire to bring Francis Bacon to the present day.

Asks the audience which historical figure they would bring to the present day.

00:00the 17th century, Europe was steeped in dense uncompromising dogmatism where tradition

00:05allowed for no other avenue to truth than through Aristotelian logic. This was until

00:10Sir Francis Bacon ignited the blaze that would illuminate the path to a scientific

00:14revolution. This was not spontaneous combustion as Bacon took inspiration from an earlier English

00:21philosopher of the same sir name; Roger Bacon. The philosophy of Francis Bacon went against the

00:27deductive reasoning that dominated the age and introduced the inductive method of reasoning in

00:32which the premises are viewed as supplying some evidence for the truth of the conclusion. Bacon

00:37placed supreme emphasis on experimentation and thought the results of said experiments should

00:42be carefully recorded so that later generations would have a reliable and repeatable conclusion

00:47to base future experimentation on. It’s through this innovation that the name Sir Francis Bacon

00:52would ring through the corridor of history as genius and become synonymous with the scientific

00:57method that we know today. The 20th century historian and philosopher Will Durant said

01:03“It was Bacon who rang the bell to call the wits together, and Europe had come of Age.”

01:08His method combined the process of carefully observing nature with the

01:13systematic accumulation of date. This process is put forward in 3 main steps.

01:18Step one – Accumulate specific empirical observations about the characteristic

01:23being investigated. Step two – Classify

01:27these facts into three categories. • When the characteristic is Present.

01:31• When it is absent. • And when it is present in varying degrees.

01:34Step three – Through careful examination of the results, reject notions that do not seem

01:41to be responsible for the occurrence and identify possible causes responsible for the occurrence.

01:45Bacon said in his first publication named In Praise of Knowledge “Now we govern nature in

01:52opinions, but we are thrall unto her in necessity; but if we would be led by her

01:57in invention, we should command her in action.” I would say that Bacon’s prediction that through

02:02science human life would improve has been proven beyond any argument to be correct. One must only

02:08look to the average life expectancy of a human being to see this. In just under 400 years since

02:14the publication of Bacon’s method, a mere blip on the radar of human history, the life expectancy

02:19of human beings has doubled from an average of 40 in the 17th century to near 80 here in the 21st.

02:25He believed this goal of human progress through scientific invention was handicapped by the blind

02:31following of the works of Aristotle which was preventing independent thought and the

02:35ability to acquire new knowledge about nature. He categorized this disillusionment into four

02:40categories of false knowledge known as The Four Idols. In summary these idols were;

02:441). Idols of the Tribe

02:46These false notions are common to all human beings; for people seek evidence that supports

02:52their own conclusions. The issue here is that beliefs become corrupted by what people want

02:57to believe and are no longer reliable. Bacon proposed this golden rule to shield from this

03:02idol. He said whenever the human mind dwells on something with peculiar satisfaction it should

03:08be held in suspicion. And that care should be taken when dealing with such questions in order

03:13to keep the understanding even and clear. Bacon stated “If a man will begin in certainties he

03:19shall end in doubts, but if he will be content to begin in doubts he shall end in certainties.”

03:242). Idols of the Cave These errors are particular

03:30to the individual and come about as a result of an individual’s disposition.

03:34Some hold this idol more than others, but make no mistake; no matter how shallow we

03:39all reside in a cave of our own. 3). Idols of the Marketplace

03:45These arise from the commerce or association that people take part in with one another,

03:50as well as from the flawed exchange between the different human languages.

03:544). Idols of the Theater This idol holds in a basic

03:59sense that intellectual progress should not be held back by old discoveries, that philosophies

04:04are no better than plays that focused on smart but foolish arguments rather than the natural world.

04:09To Bacon progress stands at a halt because we take old questionable propositions at

04:15face value and never think to put this assumption to the test of observation and experimentation.

04:20After all “truth is the daughter of time, not of authority.” These idols must be set

04:27aside to begin anew in our quest for knowledge. The philosophy of Sir Francis Bacon emphasized

04:33examination over speculation and set out to explain science

04:37with tangible proof instead of pure logic. If I could summon one from the past to the

04:42present I believe I would choose Francis Bacon. I can think of no one else who would appreciate

04:48the marvel that is modern science as he, the one who stood at its foundation and looked to

04:53its clouded peaks with hope and admiration. I agree fully with the American philosopher

04:58Loren Eiseley when he made this remark; that Bacon “More fully than any man of his time, entertained

05:04the idea of the universe as a problem to be solved, examined, meditated upon, rather than as

05:10an eternally fixed stage upon which man walked.” I’m curious; if given the opportunity which of

05:17history’s great men and women would you bring to the present day. Which hero, great thinker,

05:23artist would you wish to see rise again? If you enjoyed this video make sure you

05:29subscribe and like the video. As always thank you for talking philosophy with me, until next time!

💫 FAQs about This YouTube Video

1. Who was Sir Francis Bacon and what was his contribution to the 17th century?

Sir Francis Bacon was an English philosopher who challenged the predominant dogmatism in 17th century Europe and introduced the inductive method of reasoning, which eventually led to the scientific revolution. His emphasis on experimentation and the systematic recording of results laid the groundwork for the scientific method we know today.

2. What are the main steps in Bacon's scientific method?

Bacon's scientific method consisted of three main steps: accumulating specific empirical observations, classifying these facts into different categories based on their presence or absence, and varying degrees, and through careful examination of the results, rejecting notions that do not seem to be responsible and identifying possible causes for the occurrence.

3. How did Bacon believe human life would improve through science?

Bacon believed that human life would improve through science by doubling the average life expectancy of human beings, which he saw as a result of scientific invention and progress. He emphasized the need to break away from the blind following of Aristotle's works and acquire new knowledge about nature.

4. What are the 'Four Idols' according to Bacon?

According to Bacon, the 'Four Idols' are the idols of the tribe, cave, marketplace, and theater. These idols represent the false notions and beliefs that can corrupt the understanding and hinder the acquisition of true knowledge. Bacon emphasized the importance of setting aside these idols in the pursuit of new knowledge.

5. How did Bacon's philosophy emphasize the importance of examination in science?

Bacon's philosophy emphasized the importance of examination over speculation in science. He believed that the quest for knowledge should be based on careful observation of nature and experimentation, rather than relying solely on old theories and philosophies without putting them to the test.

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