Novum Organum

“Knowledge and human power are synonymous, since the ignorance of the cause frustrates the effect; for nature is only subdued by submission, and that which in contemplative philosophy corresponds with the cause in practical science becomes the rule.”

Bacon’s linking of knowledge and power has become one of his best-known statements, known as a pithy aphorism communicating a truth relevant not just to science but also to political and social activity. Similarly, his use of the words “cause” and “effect” in relation to each other mirrors modern understandings of cause and effect as a way of thinking about both science and topics like history. Though Bacon has a narrower context (scientific progress) in mind, this shows the importance of Baconian thinking in epistemological history. His description of subduing nature as an aim indicates the particular power he is referring to—human dominance over the natural world—and reflects his Conviction in Human Progress Through the Pursuit of Knowledge. The final clause linking contemplative philosophy to practical science distinguishes between these two disciplines, reflecting the emergence of science as a distinct discipline during the Scientific Revolution.

“Nor is it an easy matter to deliver and explain our sentiments; for those things which are in themselves new can yet be only understood from some analogy to what is old.”

Bacon uses rhetoric to prepare the ground for his forthcoming arguments. Noting why it is hard to explain his ideas encourages patience and excuses any issues a reader might identify. It also gives an impression of humility and determination in the face of a difficult task, hinting at his skill and legitimacy as a scientific thinker without explicitly stating either (which could seem boastful).