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

Bacon and the Empiricists

Daniela Rölz & Isabel von PloetzSoSe 2004Innovation, change and decision-making in international organisations


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



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

o prejudices arising from human nature o natural weaknesses like the senses

(which are inherently dull and easily deceivable)

o Bacon: we tend to find regularity where there is actually randomness, etc.

o tendency towards “wishful thinking.”o natural preference to accept, believe,

and even prove what we would prefer to be true

o tendency to rush into conclusions, instead of collecting evidence

2. Idols of cave

o prejudices coming from psychic condition of the human soul

o vary from individual to individual (unlike idols of tribe)

o referring to our culture o 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

o opposite: Deduction Drawing a particular conclusion from a general premises

o 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



The Idea of Progress

1605 “The Advancement of Learning” – first important philosophical work

3 Distempers of Learning:fantastical learningcontentious learningdelicate learning


Fantastical learning:Could be called “pseudo-

science”Lack of real and substantial

foundationProfessed by occultists and

charlatans


Contentious Learning:Criticized Aristotelian

philosophyAim: not new knowledge or

deeper understanding, but endless debates


Delicate Learning:according to the revival of

Ciceronian rhetorical embellishment

criticized preoccupation with words and style


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‘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



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)



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



Discussion

QUESTIONS???

Documents

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