History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps HoP 231 - Origin of Species - Roger Bacon
Jul 5, 2015
Guest Roger Bacon, a scientist, discusses the power of science and his theory of species in explaining light and vision. The podcast explores Bacon's intellectual project, his theories on equivocation and language, his concept of species, and his empirical approach to vision, astrology, and alchemy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Aristotle Plus Sense Experience
- Bacon revered Aristotle and thought ancient science, especially Aristotelian, crucial for revival.
- He combined this admiration with a methodological commitment to sensory observation over innate or purely abstract knowledge.
Language As Conventional Sign System
- Bacon developed a sophisticated theory of signs and language, treating significant language as conventional.
- He held that words mean what original users intended and that equivocation arises from divergent uses over time.
Species As Likenesses That Act
- Bacon explains physical interaction via 'species'—likenesses impressed by agents onto things.
- He defines species as the first effect of a natural agent, underlying heat, sound, taste, and illumination.