Francis Bacon and the Beginnings of
the Scientific Revolution
Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
 Bacon was a central
guiding force to the
emerging modern
worldview.
Biography
 Sir Nicholas Bacon
Biography
 Anne Cook Bacon
Biography
 Francis Bacon
entered Trinity
College when he
was just 12 years
old!
Trinity College Library
 Bacon felt a life of
scholarship would
be vain if that
knowledge had no
practical purpose
(he was much
disgusted by
scholasticism).
Bacon’s Literary Career
 Bacon’s greatest
intellectual
contribution was his
championing of
modern science and
the scientific
method.
Science as the Model for
Philosophy
 Bacon supposedly
coined the phrase
“knowledge is
power.”
 Knowledge becomes
utilitarian.
Science as the Model for
Philosophy
 Bacon promoted
the inductive
method of
reasoning. The goal
was for philosophy
to no longer be
based on abstract
principles, but on
concrete data.
The Five Idols
 “Idols” block the
acquisition of new
knowledge.
 1st idol: “Idols of
the Tribe” are
cultural prejudices.
The Five Idols
 2nd idol: “Idols of
the Cave” are
personal prejudices.
The Five Idols
 2nd idol: “Idols of
the Cave” are
personal prejudices.
 3rd idol: “Idols of
the Market-Place”
has to do with the
tyranny of language.
The Five Idols
 3rd idol: “Idols of the
Market-Place” has to do
with the tyranny of
language.
 4th idol: “Idols of the
Theater” has to do with
received tradition.
The Five Idols
 4th idol: “Idols of
the Theater” has to
do with received
tradition.
 5th idol: “Idols of
the Schools” is a
belief in a blind rule
of reasoning.