Biografia Francis Bacon

Lauren Cornelius
PL3362 A
Dr. Owens
2 February 2011
The Philosophy of Francis Bacon
Idols of the Mind and the Inductive Method
Francis Bacon is perhaps one of the most controversial figures of his time. He is one of the few, if not the only thinker who can truly be considered a philosopher during this particular period of time. Prior to, and toward the end of the time period known as theRenaissance, most individuals were partial to the Aristotelian points of view. This point of view placed great emphasis on the idea of observation in that it mandated if one should possess a curiosity as to what the world looks like, they should go out and explore it for themselves. It is this idea presented by Aristotle, along with Pythagoras’ notion that one must utilize mathematics as a meansto comprehend, express, and explicate the physical and material world, that lead to what we now refer to Modern Mathematical Science, or more commonly Modern Science.
As one might gain from simply dissecting the name, Modern Science, the primary focus of scientists in their studies was to observe and make us of mathematics. The reasoning behind this was because Early Modern Scientists such asNicholas Copernicus, Johann Kepler, Galileo Galilee, Leibniz, and Isaac Newton were convinced that mathematics and the observation of nature played a key role in furthering ones understanding of the natural world and all that comprise it. These scientists had a great desire for the ability to view the natural world in more detail. As a result of this era of scientific advancement, many tools westill utilize today were invented. These include the thermometer, telescope and air pump to name a few. Yet the one tool that seems to spark the most controversy of the Early Modern Scientific era is the notion of what we refer to in modern terms as calculus. Two of the great minds, Leibniz and Newton, free from collaboration concocted a brilliant notion known as “infinitesimal calculus…[which]sought to develop a complete and uniform scientific language to replace ‘words of vague and uncertain meanings’ by ‘fixed symbols’ and so permit arguments to be settled by simple calculation” (Jones 220). Despite Leibniz efforts, many if not all attribute the invention of calculus to Newton.
The more the scientists observed, the more they began to formulate new ideas and generate controversy.Nicholas Copernicus and later Johan Kepler were able to generate quite the controversy in the field of science. Copernicus generated a theory about the universe and its structure that was parallel to that of Ptolemy. Ptolemaic theory stated “that since all bodies fall to the center of the universe, the Earth must be fixed there at the center; otherwise falling objects would not be seen to drop towardthe center of the Earth. Again, if the Earth rotated once every 24 hours, a body thrown vertically upward should not fall back to the same place, as it was seen to do” (Ptolemy). This theory came to be known as the geo-centric theory in that it placed Earth at the center of the universe and mankind at the center of nature.
Copernicus objection to this theory resulted due to his belief that thesun was truly at the center of the universe and all the planets revolved around it, deemed the heliocentric theory. This led people to question everything that the geocentric theory stood for. Debacle arose as to whether or not humans were the “crown of creation” if the Earth was not central in relation to everything else. All-in-all, Copernicus ultimate goal was to influence mankind so that theymight go out and observe for the sake of seeking knowledge and such to realize the heliocentric view was accurate. Johan Kepler was able to create a method in which the precise location of the planets could be determined at any moment in time. This method came to be known as the Mathematical Law of Planetary Motion, and proved to be accurate.
The more traditional thinkers learned of...