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Chapter 40 The Founding Works of Inductive Logic

Chapter 39 The foundational work of inductive logic: "New Tools"

With the development of science in the 17th century, the instrumental theory of ancient Aristotle could no longer meet the needs of scientific progress.For this, Pei

Root wrote his most important work, The New Instrument, with the aim of reforming Aristotle's old logic of re-deduction and replacing it with a
A new logic capable of seeking knowledge, that is, based on natural science, using induction as a method, and aiming at inventing technology.

Epistemology of "New Tools"

Francis Bacon (1561～1626) is the founder of British metaphysical materialism and modern experimental science
The great philosopher and statesman of the prelude to the bourgeois revolution. After 1621, he concentrated on studying philosophy and science.he had planned to write
He wrote an encyclopedia-style masterpiece "The Great Renaissance", but only completed and published the first two parts, which is "On the Progress of Learning".
Exhibition" and "New Tools".

Bacon lived in an era when scholastic philosophy was declining but its influence was still there, and modern natural science was beginning to develop.in this case
Under the current situation, the bourgeoisie urgently requires technological innovation and transformation to increase labor productivity.Therefore, the desire for rapid development of natural

science.Bacon, as the spokesperson for the interests of the British bourgeoisie and the new aristocracy, vigorously advocated the development of natural science and defended the so-called science.

of"

"Renaissance" opened up the way to benefit mankind. For this reason, he formulated a huge research plan, the general title is "The Great
"Renaissance" is divided into six parts. The "New Tools" introduced here is its second part, also known as "Explanation of Nature".
Some Guidance".This book was published by Bacon in 1620. It is an elaborate work after Bacon's repeated scrutiny and revision.he thinks
, in order to promote the development of science and technology, the most important thing is to have a correct understanding method, which is based on observation and experiment
based on true induction. This is where the title of "New Tools" comes from.

"New Instrument" is Bacon's most important philosophical work, also

is the core of all his works.

Criticism of the Scholastic Experimental Science Classics

New Tools consists of a simple preface and two volumes.In the preface, Bacon mainly explained the reasons for writing "New Instrument"
The purpose and intention is to open up a new path for human understanding, to be a good guide to guide the way.

The first volume of "New Tools" mainly explains the philosophical foundation and guiding ideology of "New Tools";
objective reasons, systematically criticizing the wrong methods (that is, the syllogism-deductive method and the simple enumeration-inductive method) and disturbing people's cognition
All kinds of illusions that confuse people's hearts; put forward the correct way to develop science and technology, and thus understand the epistemology and true return of empiricism
The basic principles of Na are discussed systematically.

Here, Bacon first established a new relationship between man and nature.Man is the servant and interpreter of nature.To order nature must

Follow nature.Human knowledge and power are unified, which is
It is the famous slogan summarized as "knowledge is power" by later generations.

Bacon believed that in order to develop knowledge and promote scientific development, it is necessary to eliminate all kinds of illusions and misconceptions in people's minds.he thinks

There are mainly four kinds of falsehoods that hinder people's correct understanding and disturb people's hearts: the first is called "racial falsehood", which is rooted in human nature

In.

The second type of "cave illusion" is caused by the idiosyncrasies of the individual.

Third

"Market falsehood" is the confusion of people's thinking due to the uncertainty of language concepts in communication.

Often do not correctly reflect the truth of nature.

The fourth type of "theater illusion" is formed by people blindly following traditional or popular theories, systems and authorities without criticism
mistake.In order to protect and promote the development of science, he advocated the separation of politics and science, for the benefit of all

Human scientific inventions are rewarded.

Bacon believed that the research object of science and philosophy is nature, and natural philosophy is the great mother of science.
Philosophy quickly withers and dries up.But scholasticism opposes people to study nature, equating the research goal of philosophy with the religious system
Combined, philosophy is used to demonstrate the existence of God and religious doctrine, thus reducing philosophy to the slave of religious theology.Needle
Regarding the blind worship of ancient times and authority by scholastic philosophy, Bacon believed that the present should be favored over the past and the mind should be emancipated.if I
We emancipate our minds and have the courage to explore. The development of philosophy and science is promising, and the prospects of mankind are infinitely broad.

In the second half of the first volume of "New Tools", Bacon expounded his empirical epistemology.According to Bacon, the object of scientific knowledge is
Naturally, perceptual experience is the bridge to understand and contact nature, so all knowledge starts and is based on experience.with his one
Unlike some of his successors, Bacon not only realized the limitations of sensory experience, but also proposed the combination of perceptual knowledge and rational knowledge.
Deep thoughts put together.

In addition, Bacon also attached great importance to the experience gained through purposeful and planned observation experiments.He thinks everything is more real

The interpretation of nature is obtained by appropriate illustrations and experiments.

Consider the lowest axiom and

Naked experience with very little difference.Although Bacon's epistemology generally belongs to empiricism, only some
Some are beyond empiricism, important but not many.

In the second volume of "New Instruments", Bacon explained two problems: the first is to determine that the goal of knowledge is to explore and study the simple
The form of single nature, that is, the latent structure and motion law of things; the second is to expound the specific steps of induction, especially

How to use the "three-table method" to conduct real induction through analysis, comparison, rejection, and exclusion.

In the first half of the volume, Bacon discusses his materialist view of nature, especially his theory of simple qualities and forms.

It proves the basis for the induction method to be carried out.

Bacon proposed to use his inductive method to analyze the essence through the phenomenon and explore the cause through the result, from which
Look for the form behind the simple nature of things, and grasp its underlying structure and laws of motion, so as to

When necessary, this property can be reproduced and added to a given object to achieve the purpose of changing the object.

Bacon's induction is established on the basis of criticizing the distorted use of syllogism and induction by simple enumeration.
here.He put forward the basic principle of his own induction method, which is to organize perceptual materials in a rational way.that is, observing

, on the basis of experiments, starting from experiences that have been properly arranged and digested, through analysis, comparison, rejection, repulsion,
Sensation and special things lead out the axioms, and then continue to gradually rise, and finally reach the most general axioms.this understanding

The method is the generalization and summary of the experimental scientific research methods.Specifically, it can be divided into three steps:

The first step is "collection of facts", which is the preparatory step and prerequisite for induction, that is, to prepare a sufficient and perfect natural and practical
history of experience.The second step is the "three-table method", that is, through the list of examples, add a large number of perceptual materials that are chaotic and miscellaneous.
Sort them out and put them into proper order.The first is "essence and having a table", that is, a certain thing to be investigated by "having"
examples of these properties.followed by"

Approaching the lack of table", that is, the former counter-evidence.

Finally, "Cheng
Degree table", which is an example table of the properties under investigation appearing according to different degrees. These three tables not only examine the

Both positive and negative examples, and inspected its performance in different degrees, so as to achieve a comprehensive and detailed effect.third

The further "exclusion method" is intended to eliminate non-essential regulations through generalization and exclusion.

The fourth step is "induction", also known as "initial harvest".According to Bacon, a thing's
Form is to be found, and truth to be found, to be sought in each and all instances where the thing itself is.

At this point, the whole process of induction is roughly completed.But Bacon was still aware that even a truly inductively determined
The general scientific principles are not perfect, and need to be further investigated and tested by new experiments, so as to obtain continuous

development and improvement.Therefore, Bacon raised the problem of the revision of the induction method, and made necessary supplements to his own true induction method.
.

Induction Method Lays the Foundation of Empiricism

Bacon's "New Tools" is the first book in the history of modern European philosophy to systematically criticize medieval scholasticism and discuss modern materialism.

Empiricism, an immortal masterpiece discussing scientific cognition methods, has had a great impact on modern European philosophy and scientific methodology.
influences.

In terms of philosophy, "New Tools" played a huge role in creating a generation of materialist empiricism in the UK.Huo in the future

Booth inherited his tradition, systematized and one-sided his materialism, and formed a typical, modern sense of machine learning.

Mechanical materialism.And his empiricism-oriented epistemology, bridged by Hobbes, was demonstrated and developed by Locke, forming

It has become a systematic materialist empiricism.

In terms of logic and scientific methods, Bacon systematically summarized the research methods of experimental science and proposed a true induction method.

Although this summary is one-sided, and most of its contents are outdated and inapplicable, this method is still historically relevant.

has played an important role.The "Five Inductive Methods" proposed by the modern philosopher Mill, is just a further improvement of Bacon's inductive method.
Bacon is the founder of induction method.Most importantly, Pei

The inductive method created by Gen also played a huge role in promoting the development of modern science and technology.such as great creatures
The scientist Darwin publicly stated that his scientific research work was greatly influenced by Bacon.

In addition, the establishment of the Royal Society of England (that is, the Academy of Sciences) in 1662 cannot but be said to have a copy of Bacon's "New Tools".

credit.Because Bacon not only criticized scholastic philosophy in "New Tools", but also corrected the purpose and direction of scientific research and provided
The method of scientific research, but also attaches great importance to how to organize scientific research institutions to develop scientific problems.

So Bacon is indeed worthy of the whole modern practice

The true father of experimental science.His great book "Organism"

for the development of Western philosophy

The exhibition shows a new direction—the direction of the development of empiricism philosophy.

(End of this chapter)