Francis Bacon’s views on Idols
Francis Bacon states that idols are errors of human intellect that affect the way people see nature. Bacon says that some of these idols are “innate,” coming from human conception while some are not, coming from belief (Article 1, 1/2). Specifically, he describes four kinds of idols: Tribes, caves, marketplaces, and theaters. It is important to consider this because they influence the way people make scientific observations and experiments to find out what is true.
According to Bacon, Idols of the Tribe come from the physiology of human race. They are false statements based on “sense perception.” There are several causes and forms of these idols. First, there is the cloudiness and limits of sensory perception. Second is the desire to establish a prior cause, even when such a cause cannot be confidently established. The third cause is the tendency to assume that there is more order and reliability in the world then one actually finds. Finally, the forth cause is the failure of due attentiveness, that is, immediately believing what one wants to be true, impatiently rejecting difficult findings, or giving more attention to positive evidence than negative evidence (Article 1, 1/3). In my everyday life, the idols of the tribe can cloud my mind through past experiences. For instance, when I first drove in a car, I was very afraid. Since that day, I have had impression that driving is a scary experience.
Idols of the Cave represent the inclination toward a particular approach or discipline which is pursued at the expense of and to the loss of other methods which are highly ignored. This happens because an individual may have created the preferred discipline, invested the most study in this discipline, or s...
... middle of paper ...
...a person either looks at thing from only one view point (Example: only seeing details), or when he or she looks at them in terms of a specific scientific study or philosophy. The idols of the marketplace apply in terms of the language that is used to communicate (Chambers and Dahl). One example is the slang that people from different places use to refer to numerous concept, such as using the term “sweet” to refer to something that is amazing or brilliant. The idols of the theater apply in terms of transferring knowledge to others (Chambers and Dahl). More specifically, these idols apply to the way knowledge is presented, whether it is through a live presentation, or a video.
Works Cited
"An Outline of Novum Organum (Article 1)." n.d. Print. February 7 2014.
Chambers, Ben and Zeb Dahl. "The Four Idols of Sir Francis Bacon." n.d. sirbacon.org. Web. 9 February 2014.
In conclusion, the relevance of the “Allegory of the Cave” lies in the fact that its culmination continues to reoccur throughout history. Socrates, Galileo, and Martin Luther King Jr. are examples of important historical figures that have been condemned for their ability to make the journey out of the cave and return to deliver their community from the bonds that limit human growth. I believe the most important lessons to be found in Plato’s allegory are that we must learn to look beyond our immediate reality and that our actions should be geared toward unifying our communities. Only then will we arrive at the ultimate goal of living for the greater good.
“London.” Middlesex Journal or Universal Evening Post. 10 August. 1773- 12 August. 1773. Gale Cengage Learning. Web. 29 March. 2014.
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave describes ignorance and the process of enlightenment. The cave symbolizes a prison for the mind. Cave dwellers only know of the one reality presented in the cave, yet it is not reality at all. The cave dwellers are ignorant, knowing only one way and not trying to broaden their minds. Plato uses chains and shackles to represent the mental bondage of the cave dwellers. In spite of the bondage, few minds are able to break free of ...
Bacon's Declaration in the Name of the People (30 July 1676) The Declaracon of the People.1.For haveing upon specious pretences of publiqe works raised greate unjust taxes upon the Comonality for the advancement of private favorites and other sinister ends, but noe visible effects in any measure adequate, For not haveing dureing this long time of his Gouvernement in any measure advanced this hopefull Colony either by fortificacons Townes or Trade. 2.For haveing abused and rendred contemptable the Magistrates of Justice, by advanceing to places of Judicature, scandalous and Ignorant favorites. 3.For haveing wronged his Majesties prerogative and interest, by assumeing Monopoly of the Beaver trade, and for haveing in that unjust gaine betrayed
In existential thought it is often questioned who decides what is right and what is wrong. Our everyday beliefs based on the assumption that not everything we are told may be true. This questioning has given light to the subjective perspective. This means that there is a lack of a singular view that is entirely devoid of predetermined values. These predetermined values are instilled upon society by various sources such as family to the media. On a societal level this has given rise to the philosophy of social hype. The idea of hype lies in society as the valuation of something purely off someone or some group of people valuing it. Hype has become one of the main driving forces behind what society considers to be good art and how successful artists can become while being the main component that leads to a wide spread belief, followed by its integration into subjective views. Its presence in the art world propagates trends, fads, and limits what we find to be good art. Our subjective outlook on art is powered by society’s feedback upon itself. The art world, high and low, is exploited by this social construction. Even when objective critique is the goal subjective remnants can still seep through and influence an opinion. Subjective thought in the art world has been self perpetuated through regulated museums, idolization of the author, and general social construction because of hype.
Cowell, Pattie. Introduction. Anne Bradstreet 1612? - 1672. By Paul Lauter. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 187.
The Allegory of the Cave, and The Myth of Sisyphus, are both attempts at explaining some aspect of the way people think or why humans do as observed. Both stories illustrate the same idea: without necessary and proper exposure to change, thinking is limited and ignorance is the direct product.
The Allegory of the Cave has many applications to both Plato’s writing and life in general. It describes the education of a philosopher, as well as how others look on the philosopher after he has gained the knowledge of the Forms. It also describes what it is like to see the forms. After understanding the forms, what once were objects, real things, become merely shadows. One sees everything as it truly exists, as it’s form.
Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2001. 558-69.
In An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, David Hume states, “there is not, in any single, particular instance of cause and effect, any thing which can suggest the idea of power or necessary connexion” (Hume, 1993: 41). Hume establishes in section II that all ideas originate from impressions that employ the senses (11). Therefore, in order for there to be an idea of power or “necessary connexion,” there must be impressions of this connection present in single instances of cause and effect; if there are no such impressions, then there cannot be an idea of “necessary connexion” (52). To illustrate his statement, Hume examines four situations: bodies interacting in the world, mind causing actions of the body, mind causing ideas of ideas, and God as the source of power. I will highlight Hume’s reasons and outline his arguments to establish that there is no “connexion” between cause and effect on the basis of single instances.
Plato. The Allegory of the Cave. A World of Ideas. Ed. Lee Jacobus. 9th e. Boston: Bedford, 2013.
In "The Four Idols," Francis Bacon discusses the concept of what fundamentally stands in the way of a human using the correct way of arriving upon a conclusion. Bacon believes there are four falsehoods that delay people from uncovering what they need to: the idols of the tribe, cave, marketplace and theater. At first I thought that these idols did not apply to humans at all, but now, after careful consideration, I understand how each idol relates to humankind.
In defense of idols, early Iconodules cited the Old Testament where God also instructs how to make three-dimensional representations of the Cherubim for the Ark of Covenant, Later, St John of Damascus argued that images of Christ do not depict the divine, but rather that of a concrete human person, Jesus (3).
Grysman, A. (2012). Evolutionary Psychology [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from Soul Beliefs: Causes and Consequences Online Course site: rutgersonline.net.
Hill, Christopher. The World Turned Upside Down: Radical Ideas During the English Revolution. London: Temple Smith, 1972.