How Bacon and Galileo Saved You from Superstition

How Two Brains Saved You from a Future of Quackery.
August 15, 2024 by
How Bacon and Galileo Saved You from Superstition
homoerectus, Alessandro Liggieri

Ready to discover how Bacon and Galileo kicked superstition's butt and gave us modern science? Read here and thank them every time you turn on your smartphone. 

Two Brains, a Telescope, and a Flask: How Science Was Born

Have you ever wondered how we went from believing the sun revolved around the earth to sending probes to Mars? The answer is simple: thanks to two brilliant minds, Francis Bacon and Galileo Galilei. In this article, we'll explore the importance of the experimental method they developed and perfected, changing the course of history forever.

Francis Bacon, with his empiricism, laid the foundations of a new way of doing science. His insistence on observation and experimentation challenged old beliefs, paving the way for a more practical and less speculative view of the natural world. Galileo Galilei, with his telescope and astronomical observations, provided concrete evidence that supported Copernican theories, demonstrating that scientific knowledge must be based on observable and replicable data.

In short, Bacon and Galileo not only contributed to the development of science but also transformed the way we think and perceive the world around us. And if you think this is just an old historical tale, think again. Every time you use an electronic device or rely on modern medicine, you're benefiting from their work. But let's take it step by step and see how it all began.

Bacon, the King of Experiments 

Francis Bacon was a practical guy. No idle chatter, just facts. His idea? Observe, experiment, repeat. Doesn't sound bad, right? Bacon believed that true knowledge came from experience and observation. No more dragon tales and magic, but real experiments. Thanks to him, science started to become something concrete.

1561
Birth

Francis Bacon is born, a man who had no time for nonsense talk. 

1605
The Advancement of Learning 

Publishes "The Advancement of Learning," where he basically says, "Guys, maybe we should start doing some practical stuff instead of just talking." 

1620
Novum Organum 

"Novum Organum" is published, the manual of the perfect experimenter. 

Galileo, the Stargazer

Galileo, with his telescope, did what no one had done before: he observed the sky and found evidence. The craters on the moon, the phases of Venus, Jupiter's moons. Everything he saw challenged established beliefs. Imagine the scene: Galileo saying, "Hey, Earth is not the center of the universe," and everyone else going, "What?!" It was a real shift in ideas. 

1564
Birth

Galileo Galilei is born, a man who knew where to look. 

1609
Telescope

Builds his first telescope. 

1610
Sidereus Nuncius

Publishes "Sidereus Nuncius" and shocks everyone by showing that Jupiter has moons. 

From the Middle Ages to Space Travel 

If Bacon and Galileo were alive today, they'd be true nerd heroes. They took a world full of superstitions and transformed it into a place where science reigns. Every time you complain about slow Wi-Fi, remember that without them, we'd probably still be throwing potions into the fire hoping to cure a cold.

Perché te lo consiglio

I recommend it because reading about Bacon and Galileo will make you appreciate that we live in an age of science and reason, instead of superstition and magic.

Perché non te lo consiglio

I don't recommend it because, if you love living in the belief that black cats bring bad luck, this article might ruin your fun.

How Bacon and Galileo Saved You from Superstition
homoerectus, Alessandro Liggieri August 15, 2024

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