Overview

The Renaissance and Scientific Revolution encompassed the transformation of art, science, medicine, and philosophy, as well as the social, economic, and political life of Europe. Ancient concepts were challenged by new ideas and facts generated by the exploration of the world, the heavens, and the human body. Natural philosophers, physicians, and surgeons were confronted with plants, animals, and diseases unknown to the ancient authorities. Although Francis Bacon (1561-1639) and René Descartes (1596-1650) developed different methodologies, these two seventeenth century philosophers helped to guide and systematize the new sciences and define the modern scientific method.

Background

Although he made no direct contributions to scientific knowledge, Francis Bacon is remembered as Britain's major seventeenth-century British philosopher of science. A keen observer of the great events of his time, Bacon said that of all the products of human...