1. Bacon’s Bits (Of Wisdom)
A Critical Reading of “The Four Idols”

2. Why Bacon Wrote “The Four Idols”
Prove Aristotelian logic wrong
Thought deductive logic produced error

3. Main Rhetorical Structure
Enumeration
1. Idols of the Tribe
2. Idols of the Cave
3. Idols of the Marketplace
4. Idols of the Theater
Gives preview of each before going into detail

4. Idols of the Tribe Human nature to assume order
Emotion clouds objective reality
What makes us human limits understanding
Things unseen lead to superstition (spirits)
Nature is chaotic
Reminds me of Michael Shermer’s The Believing Brain

5. Idols of the Cave Individual subjectivity clouds truth
Want something to be true, even though it is not
Deals with a person’s own interests/proclivities
Reminds me of the concept of “qualia” Ramachandran discusses

6. Idols of the Marketplace
Deals with language
Language can obscure meaning
Definition is important: “terrorist” for example
Cleave and cleave
Reminds me again of Socrates and Derrida

7. Idols of the Theater Traditional systems of thought that cloud truth
Religion
Faith
Superstition
Example: “Earth is the center of the universe.”

8. Criticism for “The Four Idols”
Bacon never foresaw the hypothesis as a tool for science
Deduction and induction can be used in conjunction for greater effect

9. Discussion Questions 1. Do you agree with Bacon?
2. What is an example of a current Idol of the Tribe?
3. What is an example of a current Idol of the Cave?
4. What is an example of a current Idol of the Marketplace?
5. What is an example of a current Idol of the Theater?
6. Do you feel that this has some relevance for your life?
7. How does this fit with what we have discussed with Daytripper?

10. What’s The Warrant
Bacon’s underlying assumption (warrant) in this essay is that if people understand these four ways that we may be distracted from objective truth/reality, we can avoid moving away from truth and, instead, move toward it.

11. Fin
I couldn’t resist adding a picture 