Idola theatri
Encyclopedia
Idola theatri is a Latin
term that Sir Francis Bacon
coined in his Novum Organum
—one of the earliest treatises arguing the case for the logic and method of modern science. It's normally translated as "Idols of the Theatre."
The term is one of four such "idols," that represent "idols and false notions" that are "...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".
Besides idola theatri, there are also idola tribus
(Idols of the Tribe, stemming from human nature
itself), idola specus
, (Idols of the cave, stemming from a person's particular tendencies), and idola fori
(Idols of the Market Place, coming from the influence of philosophers and systems of thought).
Concerning the number of variations of this type, Bacon says furthermore:
Nevertheless he distinguished three types :-
Bacon said that, in his time, the last type, the superstitious, was most common, and did the most harm.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
term that Sir Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
coined in his Novum Organum
Novum Organum
The Novum Organum, full original title Novum Organum Scientiarum, is a philosophical work by Francis Bacon, written in Latin and published in 1620. The title translates as new instrument, i.e. new instrument of science. This is a reference to Aristotle's work Organon, which was his treatise on...
—one of the earliest treatises arguing the case for the logic and method of modern science. It's normally translated as "Idols of the Theatre."
The term is one of four such "idols," that represent "idols and false notions" that are "...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".
Besides idola theatri, there are also idola tribus
Idola tribus
Idola tribus is a Latin term, normally translated as "Idols of the Tribe", coined by Sir Francis Bacon and used in his Novum Organum, one of the earliest treatises arguing the case for the logic and method of modern science....
(Idols of the Tribe, stemming from human nature
Human nature
Human nature refers to the distinguishing characteristics, including ways of thinking, feeling and acting, that humans tend to have naturally....
itself), idola specus
Idola specus
Idola specus is a Latin term, normally translated as "Idols of the Cave" , coined by Sir Francis Bacon and used in his Novum Organum, one of the earliest treatises arguing the case for the logic and method of modern science....
, (Idols of the cave, stemming from a person's particular tendencies), and idola fori
Idola fori
Idola fori is a Latin term, normally translated as "Idols of the Market Place", coined by Sir Francis Bacon and used in his Novum Organum, one of the earliest treatises arguing the case for the logic and method of modern science....
(Idols of the Market Place, coming from the influence of philosophers and systems of thought).
Concerning the number of variations of this type, Bacon says furthermore:
Nevertheless he distinguished three types :-
- The Rational or Sophistical School of philosophers "snatches from experience a variety of common instances, neither duly ascertained nor diligently examined and weighed, and leaves all the rest to meditation and agitation of wit." The most conspicuous example of this type, says Bacon, was AristotleAristotleAristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
. - A second "Empirical" class of philosophers "who, having bestowed much diligent and careful labor on a few experiments, have thence made bold to educe and construct systems, wresting all other facts in a strange fashion to conformity therewith."
- A third class, a Superstitious type, "consisting of those who out of faith and veneration mix their philosophy with theology and traditions; among whom the vanity of some has gone so far aside as to seek the origin of sciences among spirits and genii."
Bacon said that, in his time, the last type, the superstitious, was most common, and did the most harm.
External links
- Novum Organum (in LatinLatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
) - New Organon (1863 EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
translation)