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The Story of Philosophy Series – Sir Francis Bacon
June 6, 2021 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm BST
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Join London ii Hosts Flick Hardingham and Irene JK to discuss and examine Sir Francis Bacon’s scientific philosophy and other views, exploring how his ideas might be relevant (or not) in today’s society and how they might serve us into the future.
Sir Francis Bacon, the father of modern sciences, lived from the mid-1500s to-1600s. He was also a lawyer, statesman, essayist, philosopher, and poet. He focused on empirical scientific methods and experimentation. He firmly believed that science would become a path for human progress. Bacon is famously known for his treatises on empiricist natural philosophy.
He developed the Baconian method, the first formulation of a modern scientific method. He wrote about The ‘New Method’ in his book “Novum Organum” and attempted to replace the Aristotelian methods shared in “Organon.” Bacon was one of the guiding spirits that led to the establishment of The Royal Society, London. There are glimpses of Plato styled utopian societal ideas in his incomplete work New Atlantis, a novel published posthumously in 1626. It is one of the earliest articulations of scientific utopia that reflects our modern times where technology and science will help us improve our lives and take center stage. As we get ready to send humans to Mars, innovative technologies entrench our life – can the scientific utopia help us flourish? We will discuss Bacon’s philosophy in relative reference to our modern lives.
This salon is the third of an 11-month Interintellect series exploring the evolution and story of Western philosophers and their ideas through ‘The Story of Philosophy’ by Will Durant. In subsequent months, we will explore key philosophers in turn by reading the relevant chapter of Durant’s book, as well as additional texts. Click here to find out more about this salon series and join us on this journey exploring the story of philosophy.
Our goal is to foster and facilitate meaningful conversations to try and decode the layers behind this great philosopher and his life. We will also explore and question their relevance in context to our modern lives. Are these views still effectual or archaic? How can we infuse some of the wisdom into our own lives? We will explore the story of the human behind the thoughts and turn the lens towards ourselves, our lives and worlds.
Active Participation
The group will be most valuable for everyone if we all set out to contribute what we can, in the spirit of vigorous and open discussion. Please approach your reading and discussion with an open but active mind, and sincere intent.
During each salon, participants will be invited to share and discuss.
- Which part of this philosopher’s life and teaching resonated with you the most?
- Which of their core beliefs do you believe are still relevant today? Which are not? Why?
We look forward to seeing you there.
Additional reading.
Science has outgrown the human mind and its limited capacities
Sir Francis Bacon and his Philosophy
Francis Bacon and the Four Idols of the Mind Reading Time | 6 minutes Among the Enlightenment
The First Scientific Utopia Still Matters 400 Years Later
The Partially Examined Life Podcast, Francis Bacon Invents Science. Part One and Two.
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