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Novum Organum: The Four Idols
Francis BaconTranslated by Spedding, Ellis, and Heath (1863)
The Doctrine of Idols
XXXVIII. The idols and false notions which are now in possession of the human understanding, and have taken deep root therein, not only so beset men's minds that truth can hardly find entrance, but even after entrance is obtained, they will again in the very instauration of the sciences meet and trouble us, unless men being forewarned of the danger fortify themselves as far as may be against their assaults.
XXXIX. There are four classes of Idols which beset men's minds. To these for distinction's sake I have assigned names.
- Idols of the Tribe (Idola Tribus)
- Idols of the Cave (Idola Specus)
- Idols of the Market-place (Idola Fori)
- Idols of the Theatre (Idola Theatri)
Analysis of the Idols
I. Idols of the Tribe (Idola Tribus)
XLI. The Idols of the Tribe have their foundation in human nature itself, and in the tribe or race of men.
For it is a false assertion that the sense of man is the measure of things.
On the contrary, all perceptions as well of the sense as of the mind are according to the measure of the individual and not according to the measure of the universe. And the human understanding is like a false mirror, which, receiving rays irregularly, distorts and discolours the nature of things by mingling its own nature with it.
II. Idols of the Cave (Idola Specus)
XLII. The Idols of the Cave are the idols of the individual man. For every one (besides the errors common to human nature in general) has a cave or den of his own, which refracts and discolours the light of nature; owing either to his own proper and peculiar nature; or to his education and conversation with others; or to the reading of books, and the authority of those whom he esteems and admires.
So that the spirit of man (according as it is meted out to different individuals) is in fact a thing variable and full of perturbation, and governed as it were by chance.
III. Idols of the Market-place (Idola Fori)
XLIII. There are also Idols formed by the intercourse and association of men with each other, which I call Idols of the Market-place, on account of the commerce and consort of men there. For it is by discourse that men associate, and words are imposed according to the apprehension of the vulgar. And therefore the ill and unfit choice of words wonderfully obstructs the understanding.
- Words force the understanding.
- Words throw all into confusion.
- Words lead men away into numberless empty controversies and idle fancies.
IV. Idols of the Theatre (Idola Theatri)
XLIV. Lastly, there are Idols which have immigrated into men's minds from the various dogmas of philosophies, and also from wrong laws of demonstration. These I call Idols of the Theatre; because in my judgment all the received systems are but so many stage-plays, representing worlds of their own creation after an unreal and scenic fashion.
Nor is it only of the systems now in vogue, or only of the ancient sects and philosophies, that I speak; for many more plays of the same kind may yet be composed and in like artificial manner set forth; seeing that errors the most widely different have nevertheless causes for the most part alike.