Bacon and the Empiricists Daniela Rölz & Isabel von Ploetz SoSe 2004 Innovation, change and decision-making in international organisations

Bacon and the Empiricists Francis Bacon, Life and political career Bacon‘s new directions - Empiricism - The New Organon The Idea of Progress - The Advancement of Learning Bacon‘s science falls on hard times Other empiricists: Locke, Hobbes Conclusion Discussion

Bacon and the Empiricists Francis Bacon, Life and political career Bacon‘s new directions - Empiricism - The New Organon The Idea of Progress - The Advancement of Learning Bacon‘s science falls on hard times Other empiricists: Locke, Hobbes Conclusion Discussion

Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

Life & Political Career 1561 Sir Francis Bacon was born in London 1573 entered Trinity College in Cambridge 1584 elected to Parliament 1601 plot to kidnap Queen Elizabeth I

Life & Political Career 1603 James I became king 1604 Appointed King’s Counsel 1618 Made Lord Chancellor 1621 charged with bribery and prohibited from sitting in parliament 1626 Francis Bacon died

Bacon and the Empiricists Francis Bacon, Life and political career Bacon‘s new directions - Empiricism - The New Organon The Idea of Progress - The Advancement of Learning Bacon‘s science falls on hard times Other empiricists: Locke, Hobbes Conclusion Discussion

Empiricism Philosophical movement in the 18th century. All knowledge comes from experience ↔ Rationalism (17th century): knowledge comes from concepts known instinctively through reason; concepts = innate ideas (Descartes) Empiricists: Francis Bacon, John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, George Berkeley

Bacon`s new directions Bacon is often thought as the originator of Modern Empiricism. He wrote a radical new way for discovering truth. people shouldn’t use the theories they had inherited

Bacon`s new directions He was opposed to theories that come before the facts We should start with observations and build our theories upon them build knowledge on experience knowledge shouldn't be built on little or unsystematic experience

The New Organon (1620) „Novum Organum“ or „True Directions for the Interpretation of Nature“ the Greek word organon means “instrument” or “tool” new instrument for guiding and correcting the mind in its search for a true understanding of nature Aphorism = short saying, referred just to the way he wrote

The Idols “idols” are characteristic errors, natural tendencies or defects of the mind prevent the mind from achieving a full and accurate understanding of nature “idol” derives from the Greek word eidolon (which means “image” or “phantom”) According to Bacon: Idols = prejudices of the mind they prevent a successful study of natural phenomena

1. Idols of tribe prejudices arising from human nature natural weaknesses like the senses (which are inherently dull and easily deceivable) Bacon: we tend to find regularity where there is actually randomness, etc. tendency towards “wishful thinking.” natural preference to accept, believe, and even prove what we would prefer to be true tendency to rush into conclusions, instead of collecting evidence

2. Idols of cave prejudices coming from psychic condition of the human soul vary from individual to individual (unlike idols of tribe) referring to our culture reflect prejudices and beliefs that we have because of our cultural background (different family backgrounds, childhood experiences, education, training, gender, religion, social class, etc.)

3. Idols of marketplace prejudices resulting from social relationships hindrances to clear thinking main culprit = language (not only common speech, but also special discourses, vocabularies) two types: names of things that do not exist faulty, vague or misleading names for things that do exist (abstract qualities and value terms such as “moist” or “useful,”) can be a source of confusion

4. The Idols of the Theatre prejudices deriving from false philosophical systems rather culturally acquired than inborn (like idols of cave) metaphor of a theatre suggests artificial imitation of truth Bacon: idols derive mainly from schemes or systems of philosophy (Sophistical, Empirical, Superstitious P.)

Induction opposite: Deduction  Drawing a particular conclusion from a general premises Induction: Drawing a conclusion based on your own experience propositions: axiom: maxim

Induction (2) problem: general axioms prove false, all the intermediate axioms may be false as well Bacon: step by step from one axiom to another, so that the most general is not reached till the last  each axiom = step up on “the ladder of intellect”

Induction (3) Bacon: Induction is a lot more secure and scientific than deduction necessary tool for the proper interpretation of nature differs from the classic induction of Aristotle and other logicians: they always wanted to draw general conclusions as soon as possible general conclusion = basis for further work

Bacon and the Empiricists Francis Bacon, Life and political career Bacon‘s new directions - Empiricism - The New Organon The Idea of Progress - The Advancement of Learning Bacon‘s science falls on hard times Other empiricists: Locke, Hobbes Conclusion Discussion

The Idea of Progress 1605 “The Advancement of Learning” – first important philosophical work 3 Distempers of Learning: fantastical learning contentious learning delicate learning

The Idea of Progress Fantastical learning: Could be called “pseudo-science” Lack of real and substantial foundation Professed by occultists and charlatans

The Idea of Progress Contentious Learning: Criticized Aristotelian philosophy Aim: not new knowledge or deeper understanding, but endless debates

The Idea of Progress Delicate Learning: according to the revival of Ciceronian rhetorical embellishment criticized preoccupation with words and style

The Idea of Progress Expanded version of the Advancement 3 categories for a new division of human knowledge: History Poesy Philosophy Prestige of Philosophy had to be elevated, while that of history and literature (humanism) needed to be reduced.

Bacon and the Empiricists Francis Bacon, Life and political career Bacon‘s new directions - Empiricism - The New Organon The Idea of Progress - The Advancement of Learning Bacon‘s science falls on hard times Other empiricists: Locke, Hobbes Conclusion Discussion

Bacon‘s science falls on hard times Reference to the past (literary and philosophical) Latin was universal language of philosophy Since 1860 translation of his works in English Bacon’s theory lost it’s semiotic foundation

Bacon and the Empiricists Francis Bacon, Life and political career Bacon‘s new directions - Empiricism - The New Organon The Idea of Progress - The Advancement of Learning Bacon‘s science falls on hard times Other empiricists: Locke, Hobbes Conclusion Discussion

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)

Thomas Hobbes He helped Bacon to write down his ideas, when Bacons‘ infirmities prevented him from doing it for himself. After Bacon‘s death, he presented a theory of social science based on careful observation  Baconian method of science

John Locke (1632-1704)

John Locke Essay ”Concerning Human Understanding” (1690) He was the first to give a logic for Empiricism. Main interest: illuminating knowledge and examining its validity Locke: attempt to prove everything by nature and fact (like Bacon)

John Locke He denied that there are innate ideas. Human intellect = clean sheet of paper Everything which is written on it, takes its origin from experience Experience: external (sensation) and internal (reflection)

Bacon and the Empiricists Francis Bacon, Life and political career Bacon‘s new directions - Empiricism - The New Organon The Idea of Progress - The Advancement of Learning Bacon‘s science falls on hard times Other empiricists: Locke, Hobbes Conclusion Discussion

Conclusion and Cultural Legacy “Universal Genius” political statesman and practical visionary Many admirers (Kant, Voltaire) controversial: Bacon’s view that nature exists mainly for human use and benefit

Bacon and the Empiricists Francis Bacon, Life and political career Bacon‘s new directions - Empiricism - The New Organon The Idea of Progress - The Advancement of Learning Bacon‘s science falls on hard times Other empiricists: Locke, Hobbes Conclusion Discussion

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