1. Francis Bacon and the Beginnings of the Scientific Revolution

2. Francis Bacon (1561-1626)  Bacon was a central guiding force to the emerging modern worldview.

3. Biography  Sir Nicholas Bacon

4. Biography  Anne Cook Bacon

5. Biography  Francis Bacon entered Trinity College when he was just 12 years old!

6. 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).

7. Bacon’s Literary Career  Bacon’s greatest intellectual contribution was his championing of modern science and the scientific method.

8. Science as the Model for Philosophy  Bacon supposedly coined the phrase “knowledge is power.”  Knowledge becomes utilitarian.  Bacon supposedly coined the phrase “knowledge is power.”  Knowledge becomes utilitarian.

9. 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.

10. The Five Idols  “Idols” block the acquisition of new knowledge.  1st idol: “Idols of the Tribe” are cultural prejudices.  “Idols” block the acquisition of new knowledge.  1st idol: “Idols of the Tribe” are cultural prejudices.

11. The Five Idols  2nd idol: “Idols of the Cave” are personal prejudices.

12. 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.  2nd idol: “Idols of the Cave” are personal prejudices.  3rd idol: “Idols of the Market-Place” has to do with the tyranny of language.

13. 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.

14. 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.  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.