PS390 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Scientific Revolution, Philosophes, Natural Philosophy
Document Summary
The scientific revolution: two social practices emerged at the time, social management" (the increasing organization of economic, political, and social life) Empiricists are like ants, which collect raw material but do not synthesize it. Rationalists are like spiders, which produce cobwebs from their own bodies but do not collect raw material. Bees, however, collect and digest raw material from which they make a new substance, honey. When investigating a problem, collect all the pertinent data but suspend any theoretical interpretation until you cross-check all possible solutions in a process of elimination. Be wary of idols (false gods), which are common, ineradicable faulty modes of thinking. Idols impair observer judgment and obscure accurate knowledge of nature. They are comparable to the current concept of observer bias. To counteract the influence of idols, search for negative instances. Observers should merely hold a mirror to nature so that she [sic] will reveal herself. Nature, not fallible observers, provides the appropriate interpretation (whitney, 1986).
