Chapter 3 Chapter 01 Volume ① Chapter 1

one Man, as subject and interpreter of nature, can do and understand only as much, and only so much, as he has observed of the course of nature in fact or in thought: beyond this, he is Can neither know nor do anything about it. ① Article 130 of this volume aims to "prepare the human mind so that it can understand and accept what is said in the next volume."This is done in two ways: on the one hand, first of all, "scrubbing, sweeping, and leveling the ground of the heart" is to clarify "the strong prejudices of some old opinions" (articles 1 to 115, which are "destruction parts"); On the other hand, "put your heart in a good position, which can be said to be a convenient position, to look at the things in front of it", which is to make people not have "a kind of delusion" about the new things introduced. Prediction or anticipation" and first "some sound and true views" (Articles 116 to 130, for the next volume—or it can be said to be the construction part—preliminary explanation).The former aspect or part, in its substance, contains three refutations: the first is a refutation of human natural reason left to its own devices, the second is a refutation of arguments, and the third is a refutation of doctrine, that is, of generally accepted reason. The rebuttal of philosophical systems and teachings.

See Volume 1, Article 115. ——Translator ②The Latin is naturaeminister, and the English translation is servant of nature; Hippocratos, a famous Greek doctor in the fifth century BC, known as the "father of medicine") once called the doctor naturaeminister.This sentence seems to mean that doctors have the role of "counselor for good fortune"; Bacon used this word to explain the status of man in nature, and it seems to have this meaning; if it is translated as "servant" or "servant", it seems to be insufficient. , so it is translated as "Chenxiang", which is for discussion. ——Translator II Working with bare hands cannot produce much effect; the same is true for understanding left to itself.

Deeds are done by tools and assistance, which requires as much understanding as the hand. ①Just as the tools of the hand serve only to motivate or guide, so the tools of the mind serve only to enlighten or warn the understanding. ① See the second section of the preamble. —Translator THREE Human knowledge and human power are one; for where the cause is not known there is no effect.To dominate nature, one must obey nature; 1 and what is a cause in speculation is a law in action. ①Refer to Volume 1, Article 129, Section 7; Volume 2, Articles 1, 2, 3, and 4. ——Translator 4 All that man can do in order to achieve works is to divide and combine some natural objects.Otherwise, nature herself does it within herself. ①①In the seven or five articles in one volume, Bacon seems to deny the meaning of this article.In another book "DeAugmentis Scientiarum", Volume II, Chapter Two, he attempted to combine these two views.

5) Natural studies with regard to merit are pursued by mechanists, mathematicians, physicians, ②alchemists, and illusionists; but all (as is the case now) with little effort and little success. ① See volume 85. - translator ②Kachin (G.W.Kitchin) commented: Speaking of mechanics, mathematicians and doctors, Bacon's comment has been proven wrong when he wrote this book.Mechanics had produced tachymeters, telescopes, and other useful ingenuities; mathematics had Kepler and Galileo boasting; and Harvey and Gil Some of Gilbert's discoveries opened up new horizons for medical research. 6. To expect to be able to do what has never been done without using a method that has never been tried is an unhealthy fantasy and a contradiction.

7. From many books and many manufactures, there is much that the heart and hand produce.But all these tricks are refinements and extensions of a few known things, regardless of the number of principles. ① Refer to Articles 85, 103, and 104 of Volume 1. - translator 8. Moreover, some of the deeds which have been obtained are still obtained by chance and experience,1 rather than by science; It is not a method of inventing a new work or a guide to a new work. ①The original Latin version is experientiae, and the English version is translated as experiment.Professor Fowler points out that this refers to sensory experience as opposed to observation and experimentation through duly directed. - translator

9. This is the cause and root of almost all the maladies in the sciences: in our vain admiration and exaltation of the powers of the human mind, we neglect to seek real help for it. 10. The subtlety of nature is several times higher than the subtlety of the senses and understanding①. Therefore, all the contemplation, conjecture, and interpretation that people are obsessed with are like blind people groping in the dark, and they are far away from the topic. ②It's just that no one is watching. ①Kachin pointed out that Bacon seems to think that regarding this subtlety of nature, if we want to investigate the hidden process and hidden structure, and discover the formula, we can reveal it, as you can see by reading the second volume. - translator

②If it is translated literally according to the original Latin text, it should be translated as "it's really crazy."Guessing means: since these speculations are based on inaccurate ideas about the matter, they must be far from the edge of the truth, and they look like madness, just as a blindfolded man playing hide-and-seek appears to the bystander. Like going crazy. ① Just as existing science cannot help us find new deeds, existing logic cannot help us find new science. ① Fleur pointed out that items 11 to 14 should be read together; they illustrate Bacon's general criticism of the old logic.

- translator