Materials+on+Bacon+and+Descartes


 * Differences between Bacon and Descartes**

//Francis Bacon// || //Rene Descartes// ||
 * * Rely heavily on results obtained through experimentation
 * Rely on senses to make observation of nature
 * “False idols” (human perception) may cause bias during the course of studying nature
 * Proposed studying a particular pattern and then make generalizations about natural causes
 * Baconian method would be referred to as an example of inductive reasoning || * Did not regard experimentation as important
 * Rely on logical reasoning and rationality to explain natural causes since human senses could be biased
 * Proposed taking previous accepted notions and generalizations, dissect them further and study each components in particular detail
 * Only when such facts are broken into smaller parts and subjected to close scrutiny and logic analysis can one arrive at the truth.
 * Cartesian method would be referred to as an example of deductive reasoning ||


 * Similarities between Bacon and Descartes**


 * Both believed in the importance of doubting and questioning
 * Bacon believed that the logic and reasoning used by Aristotle and other ancient thinkers to develop scientific theories had serious flaws
 * Descartes rejected the Aristotelian view of the universe


 * Both believed that the study of science should be objective and free from bias, personal and societal perception
 * Bacon’s “Idols” and his rejection of Aristotelian science due to it being tainted by the “Idols”
 * Descartes believed that human senses can be deceived and clouded interpretation of natural causes


 * Both advocated a standardized way of learning about nature (science, or natural philosophy as it was known back then)
 * Ideas from both thinkers would contribute to the creation of the scientific method that we know today:
 * Observation (Baconian)
 * Hypothesis (not Baconian but carries some element of Cartesian method)
 * Prediction (Cartesian)
 * Experiment (Baconian)
 * Collect data and interpret based on generalizing (Baconian) and/or inferring (Descartes)
 * Conclusion, ie prove or disprove hypothesis