120 SCIENCE AND THE HUMAN MIND 



it had been used for some time. Gilbert pointed out 

 that the set of the compass with reference to the earth 

 indicated that the earth itself possessed magnetic 

 properties, and could be represented as a huge magnet, 

 with magnetic poles nearly but not quite coincident 

 with the geographical poles. 



To Gilbert also we owe the name electricity, derived 

 from the Greek word yXeK-rpov, amber, a substance 

 which becomes electrified when rubbed. Gilbert 

 investigated the forces due to such electrification by 

 using a light metallic needle balanced on a point, and 

 extended the number of bodies which showed the 

 effect. 



It is worthy of note, as an indication of the apprecia- 

 tion of such researches by the Government of England, 

 that Gilbert, who was Court physician to Elizabeth 

 and James I., was given a pension to set him free to 

 continue his experiments in physics and chemistry. 



Meanwhile the philosophy of the new experimental 

 method was considered by Francis Bacon (1561-1626), 



Lord Chancellor of England. Bacon was 

 Francis Bacon. , . ., . ,, . .. 



deeply impressed by the failure of the 



scholastic philosophy to advance man's knowledge of 

 and power over nature. He felt that mankind was 

 still but the plaything of untamed forces, and had not 

 yet grasped that imperium hominis which should be 

 his birthright. " To extend more widely the limits 

 of the power and greatness of man," he laid down rules 

 by which advance towards mastery might be made 

 more sure. 



Bacon taught that by recording all available facts, 

 making all possible observations, performing all 



