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Francis Bacon (1561 1626 )

A suggestion for a new way of arriving at knowledge

Important Names, Terms and Concepts

Aristotle Four Idols of the Mind Syllogisms Axioms Knowledge and Power True Induction Human Understanding

Aristotle (384 322 B.C. )

Aristotle joined Platos academy at the age of seventeen. Aristotle founded his own school called the Lyceum after Platos death twenty years later. Aristotle spent mornings walking with the students talking about philosophy. Peripatetic is a Greek word meaning walking around and sometimes Aristotelians are called Peripatetics Aristotle made numerous contributions to many areas of philosophy. Aristotle believed that the first principles could be arrived at through a process called induction.

Aristotles idea of Induction

Four steps in arriving at first principles
Perception Memory Experience Knowledge

Bacons Goal and Method

Bacon says that his method is aimed at establishing progressive stages of certainty Bacon believes that a refined method based on the senses will lead to certainty A new logic is needed that goes beyond the errors that continually result from following the older Aristotelian logic

Criticism of the Syllogism

A true induction is the only way in which we can avoid the errors of the logic of the Syllogism
The foundation of the Aristotelian syllogism is based on notions or concepts If these concepts are hastily generalized, then there will no firm foundation This tendency of hasty generalization is now the case in the schools

Two ways of searching and discovering the truth

The one in fashion which is failed in Bacons mind
Senses Most general axioms Middle axioms

Bacons Suggestion for a new approach

Senses axioms by gradual and careful ascent most general axioms last of all
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Preliminary steps to True Induction

Bacon warns us to be on guard of false beliefs. According to Bacon, one needs to clear away these mistakes or sources of error before we can make real progress Sources of error are called by Bacon Idols of the mind

The Four Idols of the Mind

There are four Idols of the Mind
Idols Idols Idols Idols of of of of the the the the Tribe Cave Market-Place Theater

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Idols of the Tribe

The Idols of the tribe has its foundation in human nature Human understanding is like a false mirror By human nature Bacon means those tendencies of belief we have based on being human in general

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Idols of the Cave

Each person has prejudices of his own The Idols of the cave are those of the individual not of human nature in general Ideas acquired from others by circumstances are taken in without too much scrutiny

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Idols of the Market-place

These false beliefs are due to intercourse and association in the general society Bacon believes because language is suited to the least educated of society it has a tendency to obstruct understanding Learned men have done little to circumvent this basic problem

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Idols of the Theater

These are false beliefs that come from the various dogmas of philosophy They are analogous to stage plays because they depict an unreal scene or situation The medieval conception of science is also included in the Idols of theater

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Human Understanding
Human understanding supposes more order than is warranted Human understanding after accepting a certain belief has a tendency to distort experience to fit the belief Human understanding is prone to the fallacy of hasty generalization Human Understanding needs a new improved True Induction

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Helpful Websites
Francis Bacon and the Four Idols Aristotles Logic Overview Francis Bacons Life and Works