Skeptical and Natural Philosophy

Francis Bacon and the Scientific Revolution

What did Francis Bacon contribute to the scientific revolution?

Francis Bacon (1561–1626) systematized the methodology of empirical science and set forth a program for how science could better human life. He is famous for claiming, “Knowledge is power,” and sought ways to further develop and apply the new sciences to human life in practical ways. He believed that human beings needed to master nature and conduct experiments to discover “her” secrets—twentieth century feminists were to take Bacon to task for his assignment of a female gender to nature, compared to the maleness of scientists who were charged to conquer it.

