Document Type : Scientific extension
Author
Retired professor at Iranian Institute of Philosophy, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
The period from the 16th century to the first half of the 17th century marks a turning point in religious, philosophical, and scientific life, particularly in England. In addition to changes in the power structure of the Church and the beginning of religious reforms, extensive transformations occurred in the prevailing concepts in religion, philosophy, and science. In this intellectual revolution and cultural renaissance, two philosophers were particularly influential: Descartes and Bacon. This article focuses on the importance of Bacon and his view of science and power. Bacon’s life was at the end of the Renaissance and the beginning of the modern era. Based on the changes in the Church and Christian attitudes, he insists on separating theology from natural philosophy and denies any scientific and rational knowledge of God. Bacon’s critique of divinity has led some thinkers to accuse him of atheism. In their view, Bacon reduced philosophy from metaphysics and theology from sublime truths to nature and matter, that is, to inferior things. He is an empiricist philosopher who believes in the necessity of science being based on observation and experience. His thought is directed towards action, and he considers practical results to be the surest sign of the validity of philosophy. He seeks the identity of his thought in the past and in the thinkers of antiquity. he criticizes most of the philosophers of Greece from the pre-Socratics to Plato and Aristotle, and especially has a serious critique of scholastic philosophers in terms of their method and thoughts.
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