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why did francis bacon believe scientists should rely on to explain the laws of nature
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Francis Bacon argued that scientists should rely on careful observation and experiment — i.e., empirical, inductive inquiry — rather than on authority, abstract syllogism, or purely a priori reasoning. In Novum Organum (1620) he urged collecting facts in systematic “tables” (instances of presence, absence, and degree), running experiments that manipulate conditions, and using inductive reasoning to build general laws slowly and cautiously.
He gave two main reasons:
- Sensory observation and experiment provide the actual evidence about nature; purely deductive reasoning from received principles often leads to error.
- Human minds are biased by “idols” (of the tribe, cave, marketplace, theatre), so methodical collection and testing help overcome those distortions and produce reliable knowledge.
This empirical, experimental-inductive approach is the core of Bacon’s contribution to the modern scientific method.
He gave two main reasons:
- Sensory observation and experiment provide the actual evidence about nature; purely deductive reasoning from received principles often leads to error.
- Human minds are biased by “idols” (of the tribe, cave, marketplace, theatre), so methodical collection and testing help overcome those distortions and produce reliable knowledge.
This empirical, experimental-inductive approach is the core of Bacon’s contribution to the modern scientific method.
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