Idola fori
Encyclopedia
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.
The term is one of four such "idols" which represent "idols and false notions which are now 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 fori, there are also idola tribus
(Idols of the Tribe, coming from human nature
itself), idola specus
, (Idols of the cave, coming from the tendencies of particular individuals or groups of people) and idola theatri
(Idols of the theatre, caused by the influence of philosophers and systems of thought).
Bacon said that there were two basic kinds of Idol of the Market Place:
The first kind "is more easily expelled, because to get rid of them it is only necessary that all theories should be steadily rejected and dismissed as obsolete."
But according to Bacon, "the other class, which springs out of a faulty and unskillful abstraction, is intricate and deeply rooted." This is because it has to do with the way words themselves can guide thinking. Nevertheless, there are "certain degrees of distortion and error. [...] some notions are of necessity a little better than others, in proportion to the greater variety of subjects that fall within the range of the human sense."
Bacon said that the Idols of the Market Place were given this name by him because "on account of the commerce and consort of men there. For it is by discourse that men associate, and words are imposed according to the apprehension of the vulgar. And therefore the ill and unfit choice of words wonderfully obstructs the understanding. Nor do the definitions or explanations wherewith in some things learned men are wont to guard and defend themselves, by any means set the matter right. But words plainly force and overrule the understanding, and throw all into confusion, and lead men away into numberless empty controversies and idle fancies."
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, normally translated as "Idols of the Market Place", coined by 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...
and used 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.
The term is one of four such "idols" which represent "idols and false notions which are now 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 fori, 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, coming 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, coming from the tendencies of particular individuals or groups of people) and idola theatri
Idola theatri
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...
(Idols of the theatre, caused by the influence of philosophers and systems of thought).
Bacon said that there were two basic kinds of Idol of the Market Place:
The first kind "is more easily expelled, because to get rid of them it is only necessary that all theories should be steadily rejected and dismissed as obsolete."
But according to Bacon, "the other class, which springs out of a faulty and unskillful abstraction, is intricate and deeply rooted." This is because it has to do with the way words themselves can guide thinking. Nevertheless, there are "certain degrees of distortion and error. [...] some notions are of necessity a little better than others, in proportion to the greater variety of subjects that fall within the range of the human sense."
Bacon said that the Idols of the Market Place were given this name by him because "on account of the commerce and consort of men there. For it is by discourse that men associate, and words are imposed according to the apprehension of the vulgar. And therefore the ill and unfit choice of words wonderfully obstructs the understanding. Nor do the definitions or explanations wherewith in some things learned men are wont to guard and defend themselves, by any means set the matter right. But words plainly force and overrule the understanding, and throw all into confusion, and lead men away into numberless empty controversies and idle fancies."
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)