Excursus 030 – On the Changing Landscape of Scientific Inquiry

Hossein Jorjani First publication: 2026 – 06 – 30 In Aphorism I:61 of the Novum Organum (1620), Bacon argues that disagreements with earlier philosophers concern not the destination—truth itself—but the path by which it is reached. He illustrates this by observing that a lame man who follows the correct road will eventually outstrip a runnerContinue reading “Excursus 030 – On the Changing Landscape of Scientific Inquiry”

Excursus 017 – On Intellectual Autonomy and Heteronomy

Hossein Jorjani First publication: 2026 – 06 – 30 Bacon’s critique of received doctrine reflected a broader philosophical distinction between autonomy and heteronomy. An autonomous intellect forms its judgments—moral, epistemic, or conceptual—through independent engagement with reason and experience. A heteronomous intellect, by contrast, defers to external authorities or inherited frameworks. Bacon considered such heteronomy especiallyContinue reading “Excursus 017 – On Intellectual Autonomy and Heteronomy”