Bacon, Decartes & British Empiricists Flashcards
Describe Bacon’s new method.
Bacon was for the use of experiments to gain knowledge (cf. Aristotle). His new method entailed:
- abandon epistemic prejudices.
- use the empirical method
- use of induction.
How did Bacon abandon prejudices?
He got rid of his bias through idols. There are four categories of idols:
- idols of the triba: idols of humankind.
- idols of the cave: idols due to (cultural) groups.
- idols of the marketplace: prejudices due to language.
- idols of the theatre: idols due to authority.
How did Bacon justify the use of induction?
Bacon claimed that good science uses observation and induction (rationalist element). He justifies this by being critical and looking for refutations.
Explain Descartes anti-sceptical position.
- Radical doubt: look for things you cannot doubt. I think therefore I am: rationalist foundation.
- Clear and distinct insights: everything I perceive clearly and distinctly has to be true.
What distinction between ideas did Descartes use?
Descartes distinguished between innate ideas, acquired ideas and invented ideas.
Explain John Locke’s empiricism.
John Locke was an empiricist. He rejected the notion of innate ideas and looked at empirical ideas and qualities.
Innate ideas were rejected because they were not universal.
There are simple and complex ideas.
There are primary and secondary properties.
Explain George Berkeley’s empiricism.
Berkeley argued against Locke’s view on properties and claimed that all properties are secondary properties. Berkely used the argument of God as justification for physical reality.
Explain David Hume’s empiricism.
Hume’s ideas were similar to those of Locke. However, Hume’s empiricism also included the copy principle. Hume is aware that we often use principles of causality and induction.
Explain Hume’s analysis of causality.
- priority.
- continuity.
- necessity.
