Chapter 5 Section 03

two three There is a great difference between the illusions of the human heart and the ideas of the will.That is to say, there is a great difference between some empty dogmas and some real bells and signs stamped on creation as seen in nature. ①The word Idola is used by Bacon (according to the context here), not to refer to any object of worship, but to refer to an illusion or illusion-this is the original meaning of the Greek word.Fleur noted in a note that Bacon in Cogitataet Visa (paragraph 14) also uses the term spectrum (separate scene, with the meaning of illusion-translator) as a word with the same power as the word idola.

②The term "divinaementisideae" is directly borrowed from Plato; but Bacon's use of it here is obviously not the original meaning of the kind of rationality that is separated from matter mentioned by Plato, but has a specific meaning given by him. The meaning can be seen from the supplementary explanation in the next sentence of this article; and there are also explanations to the same effect in Article 1, 24, Volume 1. - translator two four ① Principles established by argument are of no use in the discovery of new works, because the subtleties of nature are many times greater than those of argument.But principles properly and sequentially formed from particulars will easily find their way to new particulars, and thereby animate the sciences. ① See Section 1, 2, 1, and Section 3 of Volume 1. - translator

②The original text of the Latin version is abstracta, and the English version is translated as formed. The meaning is not precise enough, so it should be translated as "abstracted". - translator twenty five The principles now in use, as suggested only by meager and manual experience,1 and a few of the most common and common particularities, are for the most part confined to just these and to treat them as included; it is no wonder, then, that they do not lead to something new and special.And if some hitherto unobserved and hitherto unknown contrary instances happen to come across, the principle is rescued and preserved by a few insignificant divisions;2;

In fact, only correcting the axiom itself is the real way. ① Kachin pointed out that this may refer to the situation of bare hands without tools mentioned in the second article above. —— translator ② Fleur commented: For example, before Galileo, people always believed that the length of time for an object to fall to the ground is inversely proportional to its weight.But some objects, such as flames, do not fall but rise.For this exception, people then use the principle of lightness to explain, saying that light objects are upward.Another example, there is an assumption in ancient astronomy that all celestial bodies must be perfect.But Galileo discovered the depressions on the moon with his telescope.It was then answered that the depressions must be filled with transparent crystals. - translator

twenty six To make the distinction clear, the conclusions drawn by human reason when applied to the problems of nature in the above-mentioned general manner, I call presumptions (in terms of their crudeness and immaturity) of nature; A theory drawn from facts by a deliberate and methodical process I call the interpretation of nature. twenty seven Conjecture is a strong enough ground for agreeing to this; for even if people were all mad and all mad alike, they would agree well with each other. twenty eight As far as winning consent is concerned, guessing is actually far more powerful than explaining.

As the conjecture is a collection of a few cases, most of which are common occurrences, it strikes the understanding directly and fills the imagination; It is made of all kinds of facts, so that it does not strike the understanding abruptly, and therefore cannot help appearing harsh and incongruous in the face of the opinions of the time, much like some mystical stuff of faith. twenty nine In sciences based on opinion and dogmatism, conjecture and logic have their usefulness; for there the object is to compel assent to propositions, not to grasp things. ①The original Latin text is dialectica. - translator

Three ○ If the method of risky guessing is used, even if all the wise men of the past and present are gathered together, and their labors are collected and passed on, there will never be any great progress in science; Because the fundamental error that has been made in the human heart long ago cannot be cured by the excellent function and subsequent remedy. three one It is idle utopia to expect any great progress in science by adding and grafting something new to the old.If we are not willing to go around in circles and make tiny, despicable progress, we have to start over from the ground up.

three two ① The honor of the ancient writers--indeed of all ancient writers--was untouched; for the contest I provoked was not of wit and talent, but of way and method, and my part was not that of a Magistrate, but just a guide. ① See the third section of the preamble. - translator Thirty-three One thing must be clearly stated: it is impossible to judge my method or some of the discoveries that this method leads to by the method of risk-taking (that is to say, by the method of inference that is commonly used today). Appropriate; the verdict of a court which is itself being judged cannot, of course, compel me to obey it.