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Full Idea
Physic should contemplate that which is inherent in matter, and therefore transitory; and metaphysic that which is abstracted and fixed
Clarification
'Physic' here is 'physics' (not 'medicine')
Gist of Idea
Physics studies transitory matter; metaphysics what is abstracted and necessary
Source
Francis Bacon (The Advancement of Learning [1605], II.VII.3)
Book Ref
Bacon,Francis: 'Advancement of Learning/New Atlantis' [OUP 1966], p.108
A Reaction
He cites the ancients for this view, with which he agrees. One could do worse than hang onto metaphysics as the study of necessities, but must then face the attacks of the Quineans - that knowledge of necessities is beyond us.
| 12117 | Science moves up and down between inventions of causes, and experiments [Bacon] |
| 12119 | Physics studies transitory matter; metaphysics what is abstracted and necessary [Bacon] |
| 12120 | Physics is of material and efficient causes, metaphysics of formal and final causes [Bacon] |
| 12118 | Essences are part of first philosophy, but as part of nature, not part of logic [Bacon] |
| 12121 | We don't assume there is no land, because we can only see sea [Bacon] |
| 12124 | Metaphysics is the best knowledge, because it is the simplest [Bacon] |
| 12123 | Natural history supports physical knowledge, which supports metaphysical knowledge [Bacon] |
| 12125 | Teleological accounts are fine in metaphysics, but they stop us from searching for the causes [Bacon] |
| 12126 | People love (unfortunately) extreme generality, rather than particular knowledge [Bacon] |
| 12127 | Many different theories will fit the observed facts [Bacon] |