Notes

Aristotelian Aims:
􏰀 Gathering scientific knowledge about reality.
􏰀 Understanding reality.
􏰀 Gathering scientific knowledge about the phenomenal world.
􏰀 Discovering what there is in reality and how it all hangs together.
􏰀 Discovering the structure of reality.
􏰀 Discovering the laws of nature.
􏰀 Describing the observed events and processes (‘saving the phenomena’).
􏰀 Describing the observable events and processes.
􏰀 Explaining the observed events and processes.
􏰀 Explaining the observable events and processes.

Baconian Aims:
􏰁 To secure and enhance the prospertity and the welfare of the people.
􏰁 To become more powerful.
􏰁 To contribute to the quality of life, to the good life.
􏰁 Wisdom, i.e. the capacity to realise what is of value for us (gratia A.N. Maxwell).

Aristotelian aims of science (aka epistemic or internal aims) make sustaining a scientific praxis an end in itself, comparable to art. L’art pour l’art et la science pour la science. Baco- nian aims (aka practical or external aims) derive from the th-century empiricist philosopher Francis Bacon, who promulgated the idea that scientific knowledge will enable us to control and exploit nature effectively to increase the prosperity and the welfare of the people (see the Module The Scientific Revolution). The locution Knowledge is Power is due to 􏰁 Bacon: before we can control and exploit Mother Nature effectively — and respectfully, if you wish — we need to know and understand her. Baconian aims turn scientific praxes into means to an end, whereas 􏰀 Aristotelian aims are ends in themselves.