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Is Roger Bacon's scientific practice scientific?
1Charles Universityhttps://ror.org/009st3569, Czech Republic.
Science in Context
|July 17, 2026
Summary
Roger Bacon's scientific practice, while using geometry, is not modern science. His commitment to theology and scripture, rather than empirical evidence, differentiates his approach.
Area of Science:
- History of Science
- Philosophy of Science
Background:
- Assessing Roger Bacon's scientific methodology against modern scientific standards.
- Utilizing Hon and Goldstein's (2023) framework for defining modern science.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if Roger Bacon's scientific practice aligns with contemporary definitions of science.
- To analyze Bacon's scientific work through the lens of commitment, methodology, and technique.
Main Methods:
- Examination of three scientific results from Roger Bacon's *Opus majus*.
- Application of Hon and Goldstein's theoretical framework (commitment, methodology, technique).
- Analysis of Bacon's reliance on geometrical proofs and diagrams.
Main Results:
- Bacon's methodology and technique show similarities to modern science (e.g., geometrical proofs, diagrams).
- Bacon's "commitment" is rooted in theology and scripture, diverging from modern scientific principles.
- This theological commitment influences his understanding of Aristotelian causes, particularly the final cause.
Conclusions:
- Roger Bacon's scientific practice is distinct from modern science due to his theological "commitment."
- His approach, reliant on scriptural revelation for understanding final causes, differs from empirical scientific inquiry.
- Bacon's work highlights the historical evolution of scientific thought and its foundational assumptions.
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