NOVUM ORGANUM 21 



properties to different objects, from which rays are emitted 

 and distort and disfigure them. 10 



XLII. The idols of the den are those of each individual; 

 for everybody (in addition to the errors common to the race 

 of man) has his own individual den or cavern, which inter 

 cepts and corrupts the light of nature, either from his own 

 peculiar and singular disposition, or from his education and 

 intercourse with others, or from his reading, and the author 

 ity acquired by those whom he reverences and admires, or 

 from the different impressions produced on the mind, as it 

 happens to be preoccupied and predisposed, or equable and 

 tranquil, and the like; so that the spirit of man (according 

 to its several dispositions), is variable, confused, and as it 

 were actuated by chance; and Heraclitus said well that men 

 search for knowledge in lesser worlds, and not in the greater 

 or common world. 



XLIII. There are also idols formed by the reciprocal in 

 tercourse and society of man with man, which we call idols 

 of the market, from the commerce and association of men 

 with each other; for men converse by means of language, 

 but words are formed at the will of the generality, and there 

 arises from a bad and unapt formation of words a wonderful 

 obstruction to the mind. Nor can the definitions and ex 

 planations with which learned men are wont to guard and 

 protect themselves in some instances afford a complete rem 

 edy words still manifestly force the understanding, throw 

 everything into confusion, and lead mankind into vain and 

 innumerable controversies and fallacies. 



XLIV. Lastly, there are idols which have crept into 



10 The propensity to this illusion may be viewed in the spirit of system, 

 or hasty generalization, which is still one of the chief obstacles in the path 

 of modern science. Ed. 



