Bacons 4 idols Flashcards
What are Bacons four idols in a general statement?
Characteristic errors, natural tendencies, or defects that prevent us from understanding nature
List the four idols
- idols of the tribe
- idols of the cave
- idols of the marketplace
- idols of the theatre
The idols of the tribe
Natural weaknesses of human nature
Examples: senses, place more order on randomness than we should allow, “wishful thinking”, rush to conclusions
The idols of the cave
Vary individually and come from culture
Examples: conforming to ways of society, allegiance to one special theory, “cookie-cutter” thinking
The idols of the marketplace
Hinder clear thinking
Examples: language in academic communities, diciplines, confusing and vague words
The idols of the theatre
Come from culture and philosophy
- sophistical: no evidence and pure speculation
- empirical: one narrow idea explains everything
- superstitious: theology and philosophy mixed
Idols of the tribe (lecture)
Natural weaknesses and tendencies common to all humans
- weak senses: easily deceivable
- wishful thinking: believe what we prefer to be true
- tendency to make premature judgements
Idols of the cave (lecture)
Arise from culture and reflect particular distortions, prejudices, and beliefs that we are all subject to owing to our different backgrounds, gender, religion, race
-acquired bias : cookie cutter mentality or allegiance to specific group
Idols of the marketplace (lecture)
Basis in words which is how we enhance info
Words are given values in a persons mind based upon their experience in life and with those words and concepts
Idols of the theatre (lecture)
Culturally acquired rather than innate
Deceive mainly from grand schemes or systems of philosophy that come from popular authority or modes of thought
Examples- religion, education, politics
