In 1620, the English scientist, philosopher
and statesman Francis Bacon published Novum Organum (New
Organon), work considered by many as the beginning of the scientific
revolution. Its publishing marked a turning point in the way scientific
research was perceived, establishing what is known today as the
"scientific Baconian method". It promoted a new approach, based on
closely observing phenomena, formulating hypotheses and demonstrating them
through experiments.
A special part of this work was dedicated to
the presentation of the so-called "idols of the mind", images and
beliefs that influenced the way in which people saw different things,
preventing them from capturing the true essence of these things and from
appreciating them at their real value.
By exposing the "idols", Bacon
showed the future generations of scientists what to avoid and what path to
follow if they want their achievements to contribute to mankind's general
progress.
The Four Idols of the Mind in Bacon's Vision
Until the end of the 16th century,
the dominant idea in science was that research was conditioned by applying the
same principles as the previous generations and respecting some generally
accepted truths. In the New Organon, Bacon pleads against this
approach, showing that it led to a general stagnation in almost all fields and
made innovations impossible.
He identifies the "idols" the human
mind worships and analyses each of them, presenting them as obstacles staying
in the way of progress and warning scientists to avoid them.
l "Idols of the Tribe" - This
category of false representations of reality derive from the essence of mankind
as a race. People who are influenced by them tend to consider the human
individual as the essence of all things, rather than to carefully observe
nature and take their answers from there.
l "Idols of the Cave" - They are
represented by the experiences each individual accumulates during his or her
life. The problem with these experiences is that they are not the result of
direct observation or research, but they are induced by reading books or as a
part of the educational system. This is the main reason why Bacon recommends
those who are passionate of a certain science to stay away from these
"mind idols".
l "Idols of the Marketplace" -
These come from an inappropriate use of language when it comes to naming
natural things or phenomena. The author of the New Organon says that, just like the precision of the terms is very
important for a commercial partnership, it is also very important for science.
The main idea is that, naming things in a way that can create confusion in
people's minds has a dramatic negative impact on the progress of society.
l "Idols of the Theatre"- They
stem from people letting their passions influence their research, distorting
the results. Bacon illustrates the idea with the examples of Plato, whose
philosophical system was influenced by his religious beliefs and of Aristotle,
who regarded philosophy as a "servant" of logic.
The Idols Are Not to Be Followed, but Rather “Silenced”
According to the author of the New
Organon, "silencing" the idols is the first step to a
relevant study and research aiming towards innovation and scientific progress.
From this point of view, direct observation, doubt and experimentation should
be the "deities" worshipped by the human mind.
Thanks to them, questions can be formulated
and hypotheses can be demonstrated through complex, pertinent experiments that
consider all the possibilities, and not just those derived from a system of
generally accepted beliefs. Bacon's opinion, as expressed in the book, was that
the right answers can only be found and progress can only be achieved by
doubting and questioning everything.
The "Idols of the Mind" in Today’s Society
The "idols theory" served as basis
for the technological innovations that initiated the so-called "industrial
revolution", shaping the world as we know it. Although almost four
centuries have passed since Novum Organum was published for the
first time, most of the ideas it promotes are still valid today.
The "idol of the tribe" is almost
totally silenced, because the young generations no longer follow the path of
their predecessors, and this is a good thing in most of the cases.
The precise terminology and the proper use of
language (as a result of the access to education granted to the masses) have
also diminished the importance of the "idol of the marketplace".
However, people still rely on the "idol
of the cave" in enlarging their base of knowledge and discovering new
things. This is not necessarily bad, because nowadays scientists do not
assimilate information blindly, but interpret it and correct potential errors.
As for the "idol of the theatre",
its influence is only resented as far as interests and passions are concerned,
and its impact on scientific research can be considered a positive one.
References
Bacon,
F. (2000). The New Organon (Cambridge
Texts in the History of Philosophy)
L. Jardine & M.
Silverthorne Cambridge
University Press.
