Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626): Father of the Scientific Method

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"KNOWLEDGE IS POWER" FRANCIS BACON

He emphasizes the importance of empirical evidence and observation 

or experience rather than theory!

Empirical evidence derived from experiment and observation rather than theory.

Hypothesis = A process beginning with an educated guess.

If a hypothesis is repeatedly independently demonstrated by experiment to be true, it becomes a scientific theory. The words "hypothesis" and "theory" are often used interchangeably, but this is incorrect. 

Theory = speculation / contemplation, hypothesis

 set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena 

  1. Theory as opposed to practice. "a fine musician who had never studied theory."
  2. Abstract reasoning; speculation.

A doctrine, or scheme of things, which terminates in speculation or contemplation,

without a view to practice; hypothesis; speculation. "the theory of music"

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626): Father of the Scientific

Method • No a priori assumptions:

“If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts, but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties.”

• Primacy of empirical observations • Develop a theory • Express it in mathematics

• Experimentation (test the theory) Inductive reasoning: Look at lots of evidence and from these, infer a general principle.

"KNOWLEDGE IS POWER" FRANCIS BACON

He emphasizes the importance of empirical evidence and observation 

or experience rather than theory!