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Baconian

Baconian

1 9.7
About Francis Bacon's idea that science should use careful observation and experiment
  • adjective
  • /bəˈkoʊniən/
  • Formal
: baconiano
  • Many scientists today adopt a Baconian approach in their research, emphasizing observation and experimentation.

And it will no doubt track the development of the, I guess, Baconian approach.

Examples

  • Physics, more than any other field, relies heavily upon theory and math, and so needs different structures than the previously accepted Baconian and Newtonian views of things.

    Blog text (17)

  • Here then was a clinician who was a pioneer in experimental philosophy and in experiments aimed at unraveling the mysteries of both electricity and magnetism, and a forerunner of Baconian thinking.

    Academic text (1991)

  • And it will no doubt track the development of the, I guess, Baconian approach.

    Tim Ferriss

  • Pickering was an early proponent of the growing science of astrophysics and a Baconian collector of data.

    Academic text (1992)

  • The interaction of mathematics with science has never been smooth (exemplified by the difference between Baconian and Cartesian science and the resulting fight between empiricism and rationalism in the 17th and 18th centuries).

    Academic text (2010)

  • If Baconian natural science cannot know that miracles are impossible, then is Bacon not bolder than bold—indeed foolhardy in the extreme—to urge mankind toward the "noblest work" of natural philosophy?

    Academic text (2003)

  • The lecture discussed the Baconian philosophy of relying on empirical evidence to form scientific conclusions.

  • Her Baconian methods in the laboratory prioritize hands-on experimentation over theoretical assumptions.

Surface Forms

Baconian positive

Morphology

Baconian = Bacon (transparent) = Bacon + ian

Formed by the productive suffix '-ian' added to the name 'Bacon' to mean 'relating to or characteristic of Bacon', which is directly interpretable by learners familiar with similar forms (e.g., 'Newtonian').

Etymology

Baconian comes from the name Bacon, from the philosopher Francis Bacon, plus the ending -ian, which means 'related to' or 'belonging to'. Francis Bacon liked careful observation and testing, so Baconian describes ideas or methods that focus on evidence and experiment.