In Bacon’s New Organon he claims the current workings of the Philo-scientific community are flawed—trapped by logic in an endless circle of pursuit of that which does not exist. Mankind’s problem is he has invented idols which have guided his development. It is akin to a child looking to a story in order to learn how to mature. Bacon believes the advancement this way of searching produces has come to an end. He proposes we remove these idols that color our expedition into the secrets of nature, replacing them with truth. In section 70 in the middle of the third paragraph he says, “Now God on the first day of creation created light only, giving to that work an entire day, in which no material substance was created. So must we likewise from experience of every kind first endeavor to discover true causes and axioms; and seek for experiments of Light, not for experiments of Fruit.” What exactly does he mean by light and what does he mean by fruit?
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Light
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Nick: It is my understanding that Bacon's discussion in this section relates to his frustration with the false sciences, i.e. alchemy and chemistry, whose primary goal it was to, through chemical processes, turn base metals into pure gold. It was a primarily religious practice based more on symbolism than science. As such, my interpretation of Light would be true scientific discovery sought out for the sake of truth, and Fruit as the tangible rewards of the Alchemist's intent at discovery - gold.
ReplyDeleteI think that in this passage Bacon is being more straightforward than he seems. Light is what allows us to see and properly identify things. God spent a whole day creating light before he created things to be seen. Like light, axioms allow us to see and properly do science. Instead of focusing on the fruits of science (practical results), science itself must be illuminated by true axioms. Only then can we focus on the fruits.
ReplyDeleteMy translation says "On the first day of creation God made only the light, and devoted the whole day to this work, and made no material thing that day."
ReplyDeleteLatin text: "Deus autem primo die creationis lucem tantum creavit, eique operi diem integrum attribuit; nec aliquid materiati operis eo die creavit."
That is to say, the Latin text has no mention of fruit.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thelatinlibrary.com/bacon.html
Colin, the text you quoted was not the full text that Mr. Haney quoted above. You quoted the portion of the quote in which there was no mention of fruit in any of the translations. It was the next sentence in which the word was introduced. All of the translations (listed here) mention fruit.
ReplyDeleteI mean to type Mr. Parker... not Mr. Haney. Sorry, Mr. Parker.
ReplyDeleteHaha, whoops. That makes a lot more sense.
ReplyDeleteThe word is "fructifera, [fruitful]" (my translation translateds "profitable") so I guess Bacon is making a play on words.