Single Idea 3648

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / D. Empiricism / 1. Empiricism]

Full Idea

Empiricists are like ants; they collect and put to use; but rationalists, like spiders, spin threads out of themselves. (…and bees follow the middle way, of collecting material and transforming it).

Gist of Idea

Empiricists are collecting ants; rationalists are spinning spiders; and bees do both

Source

Francis Bacon (Cogitata et Visa [1607])

Book Reference

Cottingham,John: 'Rationalism' [Paladin 1984], p.7


A Reaction

Nice (and so concisely expressed). Bees seem to be just more intelligent and energetic empiricists.