New Beginnings

In reading Francis Bacon's "The New Science" and Marquis de Condorcet's "The Utility of Science", I couldn't help but think of this new science as a new beginning. I found it interesting that Bacon states that the only way to be masters of nature is to realize that nature rules our lives. Then he goes on to state that the only way now to make progress is to start over. As Bacon states, "We must begin anew from the very foundations, unless we would revolve forever in a circle with mean and contemptible progress". This brings up a very interesting point for me. As we progress do we have to throw out the old methods and start over to ensure we can continue to progress?

I think that Bacon makes a very good point in saying we have to start anew if we want to make progress. If the methods of the past are shown to be in error then to continue to in those ways would be to make "mean and contemptible progress". Much like Bacon, Condorcet points out the errors in the methods of the past have led to errors, and that new methods have begun to uncover those errors and correct them. According to Condorcet, all of the natural sciences work together to correct the philosophical mistakes of the past.

Overall, I think Condorcet and Bacon make a very good point. The enlightenment truly was a time of new beginnings. There is always the obvious advancements in science as shown by Condorcet and Bacon. However, there are also realms such as fiction and print, where Franklin and many others were making new beginnings just as much as any scientist was. The enlightenment established a time of new beginnings, something that we continue to build upon today.