Birth of Science
…if a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts…
It’s the birthday of English essayist, philosopher, poet, historian, and statesman Sir Francis Bacon, born in London, England (1561). He spent much of his intellectual life challenging Aristotle’s view that knowledge should begin with universal truths. He said, “If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties.” In Novum Organum (1620), Bacon wrote that scholars should build their knowledge of the world from specific, observable details. His theory is now known as the scientific method, and is the basis of all experimental science. His scientific method eventually killed him. When driving in the country one day, he got the idea to test the effect of cold on the decay of meat, bought a fowl, and stuffed it with snow. Later that day he came down with a cold, which killed him.
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Apparently Bushcon Republicans want to undo many of the social changes of the 20 century (well, the 30s and 60s).
But as your Bacon quote shows, with the ID debate they want to go a lot further back than that. The entire enlightenment at least - and one of its troubling artifacts, the US Constitution.
They are sure in their purpose… and with all surety they are as misguided as they are convinced of their cause… pity the rest of us.