In his sixty ninth aphorism of The New Organon, Francis Bacon writes, “demonstrations truly are in effect the philosophies themselves and the sciences.” This claim is directed primarily to show the folly in which experiments are currently conducted, the method in which “the most general principles are first established and then intermediate axioms are tried and proved by them” (69). However, the ramifications of this claim stake much against more than simply the means of experimentation.
Bacon argues that the main problem within the past philosophies is that they too quickly form assertions and claims based on too little experimentation and on the bias of the will. To support his claim, Bacon calls on Aristotle several times (in aphorisms 63 and 67 especially) in regard to the manner in which he observed and experimented to form his axioms. According to Bacon, rather than consulting experience, Aristotle had first “determined the question according to his will” and then answered it to fit the mold of his presuppositions (63). Here and throughout, Bacon is stressing the importance of too little observation and demonstration.
Yet at the same time, Bacon continually stresses, “the human senses and understanding, weak as they are, are not to be deprived of their authority” (67). He does not hesitate to grant the reader examples of the human will’s overzealousness in laying down universal laws based on too small grounds, but he does nothing in the first seventy aphorisms to define what sufficient observation is. At what point of observation can we determine a middle axiom? From these, when can we determine a general rule of nature? Hopefully further reading will elicit an answer.
Is there just a difference in the quantity of observations between Aristotle and Bacon or is there a difference in quality? If the difference is one of quality, I agree that it is hard to see what constitutes enough observation. On the other hand, For Bacon any practical use derived from observations shows them to have some truth, no matter how comprehensive the data is. But how do we judge use? Are all uses good or worthwhile?
ReplyDeleteIn aphorism 73 Bacon does state that the truth of philosophies can be assured by its fruits and works. It would seem that he is judging observation and experimentation based on quality and not quantity, but we are still without a concrete definition of what he would consider efficient, in my opinion.
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