The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

Book I. NOVUM ORGANUM. 347
ing our sentiments: namely, we must bring men tuated by chance; and Heraclitus said well that
to particulars, and their regular series and order, men search for knowledge in lesser worlds, and
and they must for a while renounce their notions not in the greater or common world.
and begin to form an acquaintance with things. 43. There are also idols formed by the recipro37. Our method and that of the skeptics agree cal intercourse and society of man with man,
in some respects at first setting out: but differ which we call idols of the market, from the commost widely and are completely opposed to each merce and association of men with each other.
other in their conclusion. For they roundly For men converse by means of language; but
assert that nothing can be known; we, that but words are formed at the will of the generality;
a small part of nature can be known by the pre- and there arises from a bad and unapt formation
sent method. Their next step, however, is to de- of words a wonderful obstruction to the mind.
stroy the authority of the senses and understand- Nor can the definitions and explanations, with
ins, whilst we invent and supply them with which learned men are wont to guard and protect
assistance. themselves in some instances, afford a complete
38. The idols and false notions which have remedy: words still manifestly force the underalready preoccupied the human understanding, standing, throw every thing into confusion, and
and are deeply rooted in it, not only to beset lead mankind into vain and innumerable contromen's Bminds, that they become difficult of access, versies and fallacies.
but, even when access is obtained, will again 44. Lastly, there are idols which have crept
meet and trouble us in the instauration of the into men's minds from the various dogmas of
sciences, unless mankind, when forewarned, peculiar systems of philosophy, and also from the
guard themselves with all possible care against perverted rules of demonstration, and these we
them. denominate idols of the theatre. For we regard
39. Four species of idols beset the human all the systems of philosophy hitherto received or
mind: to which (for distinction's sake) we have imagined, as so many plays brought out and perassigned names: calling the first idols of the formed, creating fictitious and theatrical worlds.
tribe; the second idols of the den; the third Nor do we speak only of the present systems, or
idols of the market; the fourth idols of the of the philosophy and sects of the ancients, since
theatre. numerous other plays of a similar nature can be
40. The formation of notions and axioms on still composed and made to agree with each other,
the foundation of true induction, is the only fitting the causes of the most opposite errors being generemedy, by which we can ward off and expel rally the same. Nor, again, do we allude merely
these idols. It is, however, of great service to to general systems, but also to many elements
point them out. For the doctrine of idols bears and axioms of sciences, which have become inthe same relation to the interpretation of nature, veterate by tradition, implicit credence, and negas that of confutation of sophisms does to com- lect. We must, however, discuss each species
mon logic. of idols more fully and distinctly, in order to guard
41. The idols of the tribe are inherent in hu- the human understanding against them.
man nature, and the very tribe or race of man. 45.* The human understanding, from its pecuFor man's sense is falsely asserted to be the liar nature, easily supposes a greater degree of
standard of things. On the contrary, all the per- order and equality in things than it really finds;
ceptions, both of the senses and the mind, bear and although many things in nature be sui genereference to man, and not to the universe, and the ris, and most irregular, will yet invent parallels
human mind resembles those uneven mirrors, and conjugates, and relatives, where no such thing
which impart their own properties to different is. Hence the fiction, that all celestial bodies
objects, from which rays are emitted, and distort were in perfect circles, thus rejecting entirely
and disfigure them. spiral and serpentine lines, (except as explanatory
42. The idols of the den are those of each terms.) Hence, also, the element of fire is inindividual. For everybody (in addition to the troduced with its peculiar orbit, to keep square
errors common to the race of man) has his own with those other three which are objects of our
individual den or cavern, which intercepts and senses. The relative rarity of the elements (as
corrupts the light of nature; either from his own they are called) is arbitrarily made to vary in tenpeculiar and singular disposition, or from his fold progression, with many other dreams of
education and intercourse with others, or from the like nature. Nor is this folly confined to
his reading, and the authority acquired by those theories, but it is to be met with even in simple
whom he reverences and admires, or from the notions.
different impressions produced on the mind, as it 46. The human understanding, when any prohappens to be preoccupied and predisposed, or position has been once laid down, (either from
equable and tranquil, and the like: so that the general admission and belief, or from the pleasure
spirit of man (according to its several dispositions) is variable, confused, and as it were ac- * Hence to Aphorism 53 treats of the idols of the tribe