1 description in novum organum
1.1 bacon s view of induction
1.2 role of english reformation
1.3 approach causality
1.4 refinements
description in novum organum
bacon s view of induction
bacon s method example of application of inductive reasoning. however, bacon s method of induction more complex essential inductive process of making generalizations observations. bacon s method begins description of requirements making careful, systematic observations necessary produce quality facts. proceeds use induction, ability generalize set of facts 1 or more axioms. however, stresses necessity of not generalizing beyond facts demonstrate. next step may gather additional data, or researcher may use existing data , new axioms establish additional axioms. specific types of facts can particularly useful, such negative instances, exceptional instances , data experiments. whole process repeated in stepwise fashion build increasingly complex base of knowledge, 1 supported observed facts, or more speaking, empirical data.
he argues in novum organum our hope building true knowledge through careful method. old knowledge-building methods not based in facts, on broad, ill-proven deductions , metaphysical conjecture. when theories based in fact, broad generalizations and/or abstractions few instances of casually gathered observations. using bacon s process, man start fresh, setting aside old superstitions, over-generalizations, , traditional (often unproven) facts . researchers accurately build essential base of knowledge ground up. describing then-existing knowledge, bacon claims:
there same degree of licentiousness , error in forming axioms [there is] in abstracting notions, , [also] in first principles, depend in common induction [versus bacon s induction]; still more case in axioms , inferior propositions derived syllogisms.
while advocated empirical, observational, reasoned method did away metaphysical conjecture, bacon religious man, believed in god, , believed work had religious role. contended, other researchers @ time, doing careful work man begin understand god s wonderful creation, reclaim knowledge had been lost in adam , eve s fall , , make of god-given talents.
role of english reformation
there wider array of seminal works interaction of puritanism , science. among others, dorothy stimson, richard foster jones , robert merton saw puritanism major driver of reforms initiated bacon respectively development of science overall. steven matthews cautious interaction single confession, english reformation allowed higher doctrinal diversity compared continent. matthews quite outspoken, bacon s entire understanding of call “science,” , called “natural philosophy,” fashioned around basic tenets of belief system.
approach causality
the method consists of procedures isolating , further investigating form nature, or cause, of phenomenon, including method of agreement, method of difference, , method of concomitant variation.
bacon suggests draw list of things in phenomenon trying explain occurs, list of things in not occur. rank lists according degree in phenomenon occurs in each one. should able deduce factors match occurrence of phenomenon in 1 list , don t occur in other list, , factors change in accordance way data had been ranked.
thus, if army successful when commanded essex, , not successful when not commanded essex: , when more or less successful according degree of involvement of essex commander, scientifically reasonable being commanded essex causally related army s success.
from bacon suggests underlying cause of phenomenon, calls form, can approximated interpreting results of 1 s observations. approximation bacon calls first vintage. not final conclusion formal cause of phenomenon merely hypothesis. first stage in attempt find form , must scrutinized , compared other hypotheses. in manner, truth of natural philosophy approached gradual degrees, stated in novum organum.
refinements
the baconian method not end @ first vintage. bacon described numerous classes of instances special powers, cases in phenomenon 1 attempting explain particularly relevant. these instances, of bacon describes 27 in novum organum, aid , accelerate process of induction.
aside first vintage , instances special powers, bacon enumerates additional aids intellect presumably next steps in method. these additional aids, however, never explained beyond initial limited appearance in novum organum.
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