320 BACON 



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 explanations with which learned 

 men are wont to guard and protect themselves in some in- 

 stances afford a complete remedy words still manifestly force 

 the understanding, throw everything into confusion, and lead 

 mankind into vain and innumerable controversies and fallacies. 



44. Lastly, There are idols which have crept into men's 

 minds from the various dogmas of peculiar systems of philoso- 

 phy, and also from the perverted rules of demonstration, and 

 these we denominate idols of the theatre : for we regard all the 

 systems of philosophy hitherto received or imagined, as so 

 many plays brought out and performed, creating fictitious and 

 theatrical worlds. Nor do we speak only of the present sys- 

 tems, or of the philosophy and sects of the ancients, since nu- 

 merous other plays of a similar nature can be still composed and 

 made to agree with each other, the causes of the most opposite 

 errors being generally the same. Nor, again, do we allude 

 merely to general systems, but also to many elements and ax- 

 ioms of sciences which have become inveterate by tradition, 

 implicit credence, and neglect. We must, however, discuss 

 each species of idols more fully and distinctly in order to guard 

 the human understanding against them. 



45. The human understanding, from its peculiar nature, eas- 

 ily supposes a greater degree of order and equality in things 

 than it really finds ; and although many things in nature be sui 

 generis and most irregular, will yet invent parallels and conju- 

 gates and relatives, where no such thing is. Hence the fiction, 

 that all celestial bodies move in perfect circles, thus rejecting 

 entirely spiral and serpentine lines (except as explanatory 

 terms). Hence also the element of fire is introduced with its 

 peculiar orbit, to keep square with those other three which are 

 objects of our senses. The relative rarity of the elements (as 

 they are called) is arbitrarily made to vary in tenfold progres- 

 sion, with many other dreams of the like nature. Nor is this 

 folly confined to theories, but it is to be met with even in simple 

 notions. 



46. The human understanding, when any proposition has 

 been once laid down (either from general admission and belief, 

 or from the pleasure it affords), forces everything else to add 

 fresh support and confirmation ; and although most cogent and 

 abundant instances may exist to the contrary, yet either does 

 not observe or despises them, or gets rid of and rejects them by 

 some distinction, with violent and injurious prejudice, rather 



