Does nature obey laws?

About this episode

The episode explores the origins and implications of the belief that nature obeys laws, focusing on Francis Bacon's influence on modern science.

The conviction that the natural world is obedient, adhering to laws, is a widespread assumption of modern science. But where did this idea originate and what beliefs does it imply? In this episode of the Sheldrake-Vernon Dialogues, Rupert Sheldrake and Mark Vernon discuss the impact on science of the Elizabethan lawyer, Francis Bacon. His New Instrument of Thought, or Novum Organum, put laws at the centre of science and was intended as an upgrade on assumptions developed by Aristotle. But doe...

People in this episode

Hosts: Rupert Sheldrake, Mark Vernon

Topics covered

• natural laws
• science
• Francis Bacon
• philosophy
• Aristotle
• Elizabethan era

Keywords

• natural world
• laws of nature
• Francis Bacon
• science history
• philosophy of science
• Aristotle

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: New Instrument of Thought, Novum Organum, Aristotle

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