80 THE PATH OF SCIENCE 



aim of science, therefore, is to understand and define these 

 basic principles; tliey can then be applied to any special case 

 that is under investigation. Descartes believed that the cor- 

 rect principles could be selected by using their clarity as a 

 criterion; the clearest image would be the most nearly cor- 

 rect. These ideas, which were similar to those of Pythagoras 

 and his followers, represent an extension to other studies of 

 the methods of mathematics, in which Descartes himself made 

 great advances, applying algebraic methods to geometrical 

 problems. The method of Descartes consisted in beginning 

 with the simplest and surest notions and proceeding cau- 

 tiously to deduce inferences. Descartes realized, of course, 

 that knowledge is derived from experience as well as from 

 deduction. In contrast to Bacon, however, he put more faith 

 in deduction than in experience. Descartes' views on the 

 philosophy of science represented a very wide break from the 

 scholastic principles identified with the name of Aristotle; 

 but they were of a form acceptable to the orthodox scholars 

 of his time, and they received wide recognition. 



Francis Bacon '^vas a very extraordinary man. Born in 

 1561, the younger son of a British nobleman, he entered 

 Trinity College, Cambridge, and at the age of eighteen took 

 up residence at Gray's Inn and became a lawyer. His patron 

 was the Earl of Essex, and Bacon's career was largely in- 

 fluenced by that of Essex. When Essex was tried on a charge 

 of treason. Bacon was one of the Crown counsel, a fact that 

 gave rise to much criticism. It was not until the accession of 

 James I to the throne that Bacon had any chance of advance- 

 ment. Then he was promoted rapidly until, in 1618, he was 

 made Lord Chancellor. In 1621, however, his enemies dis- 

 covered that he had been guilty of corrupt dealings, for 

 which he was sentenced to a severe penalty, largely remitted 

 by the king.* 



The greater part of Bacon's important writings were pub- 

 lished in the last five years of his life. Bacon was not a 



* Compare John R. Baker, The Scientific Life, p. 52, London, 

 George Allen & Unwin, Ltd., 1942. 



