Correct option is C
Explanation:
The correct answer is Novum Organum. This work, fully titled Novum Organum Scientiarum (Latin for "New Instrument of Science"), was published in 1620 by Francis Bacon and is considered one of the most significant contributions to scientific methodology. It outlines Bacon’s inductive method, which became foundational to the development of modern empirical science.
In Novum Organum, Bacon rejected the Aristotelian method of deductive reasoning and instead emphasized induction, where knowledge is derived from careful observation and experimentation. He proposed that knowledge should be built from specific observations toward general principles—a complete reversal of the prevalent deductive logic of his time.
Bacon believed that knowledge should be practical and useful, not merely speculative. His method aimed to free scientific inquiry from dogma and scholasticism and instead base it on systematic experimentation and empirical evidence.
Information Booster:
Francis Bacon (1561–1626) was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, and essayist. He is regarded as the father of empiricism and a key figure in the Scientific Revolution. He served as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England.
Novum Organum:
- Published in 1620 as part of Bacon's larger project titled Instauratio Magna (The Great Renewal).
- The title is a reference to Aristotle’s Organon, which was the collection of works on logic.
- Novum Organum was meant to replace Aristotle's system with Bacon's new method of acquiring knowledge.
- Bacon introduces the concept of “Idols of the Mind”—false notions that hinder the acquisition of true knowledge (Idols of the Tribe, Cave, Marketplace, and Theatre).
Bacon's work laid the groundwork for modern scientific inquiry, influencing thinkers like Isaac Newton, and became a fundamental part of empirical philosophy.
Summary of Inductive Method:
Observations → Patterns → Hypothesis → Theory
Bacon advocated moving from particular facts to general axioms, using experimentation and observation to arrive at truth.
Additional Knowledge:
Apophthegms:
A collection of witty sayings and historical anecdotes compiled by Bacon, focusing more on moral and rhetorical reflections rather than scientific methodology.
The History of Henry VII:
A historical account written by Bacon in 1622, detailing the reign of Henry VII. It is a political and historical narrative.
De Augmentis Scientiarum:
Published in 1623, it is an expanded Latin version of Bacon’s earlier work The Advancement of Learning. It discusses the classification of knowledge.