Heidi Studer | University of Alberta (original) (raw)
Papers by Heidi Studer
Canadian Journal of Political Science, Jun 1, 1998
Introduction to the Fable of Daedalus Francis Bacon was a principal founder of modern science and... more Introduction to the Fable of Daedalus Francis Bacon was a principal founder of modern science and its aim to achieve power over nature. But he was not naively optimistic about the advancement of science: he promoted it aware of the dangers. We in the final years of the twentieth century are in the privileged and precarious position of witnessing the enormous political ramifications of the success of that project, from nuclear weapons to energy shortages, environmental pollution, Third-World development, pernicious use of the internet and, perhaps the most overwhelming prospect of all, genetic manipulation, which has already revolutionized agriculture, and is now being applied to human beings. It would not be a great exaggeration to say that the gravest problems of modern liberal democracies concern their confrontation with science: with trying to control the enormous power of science and technology so that it is used for good ends, not wicked ones. What can and cannot be done to direct and to control such awesome power, and what should and should not be done, are the questions to which we most urgently require answers. They are elaborated in some detail in the fable "Daedalus," chapter 19 of Bacon's Of the Wisdom of the Ancients, 1 wherein he discusses the mechanical scientist, or inventor. 2 Francis Bacon, De Sapientia Veterum (London, 1609); all translations in this article are mine, from a book in progress, a critical edition of Of the Wisdom of the Ancients, with a new translation, an interpretation and several indices. That "Daedalus" has this subject matter partly explains why Bacon intended the book to be included in a volume of "moral and political writings" that was to be "interposed" between two volumes of his major project, The Great Instauration.
The Review of Politics, 2003
Francis Bacon's pronouncement that "Man is the Center of the World," the final cause of all natur... more Francis Bacon's pronouncement that "Man is the Center of the World," the final cause of all nature, seems to unleash us from all guidance and restraint, providing no grounds for judging any human action to be better or worse than any other. The political implications of such a position-combined with Bacon's efforts to advance technological power-are enormous. There would be little support for natural rights or any other kind of "right" except what is based on force. This famous promoter of scientific power, however, was neither oblivious to the danger, nor politically irresponsible, in his assessment of man's position in the cosmos, and his counsel seems closer to classical political philosophy than is normally acknowledged. This essay provides an examination of and detailed commentary on Bacon's argument, as presented in "Prometheus, or the State of Man." It reveals that Bacon expects us to deal with the problem in terms of properly ranking humans themselves, discarding the notion that all humans are equal. In light of such a ranking we may come to recognize natural standards for evaluating humans and their actions.
The Review of Politics, 1997
Page 1. Francis Bacon: Philosopher or Ideologue? Heidi D. Studer In recent years, Francis Bacon h... more Page 1. Francis Bacon: Philosopher or Ideologue? Heidi D. Studer In recent years, Francis Bacon has been receiving long overdue attention. As we directly confront the problems of modernity, scholars have begun to reexamine ...
The Review of Politics, 2003
Page 1. "Strange Fire at the Altar of the Lord": Francis Bacon on Human Nature Heidi D.... more Page 1. "Strange Fire at the Altar of the Lord": Francis Bacon on Human Nature Heidi D. Studer Francis Bacon's pronouncement that "Man is the Center of the World," the final cause of all nature, seems to unleash us from all ...
Canadian Journal of Political Science, 1998
... E-mail: heidi.studer@ualberta.ca Canadian Journal of Political Science I Revue canadienne de ... more ... E-mail: heidi.studer@ualberta.ca Canadian Journal of Political Science I Revue canadienne de science politique XXXI:2 (June/Juln 1998) 219-34 © 1998 Canadian Political Science Association (1'Association canadienne de science politique) and/et la Socie^d qugbecoise de ...
Canadian Journal of Political Science, Jun 1, 1998
Introduction to the Fable of Daedalus Francis Bacon was a principal founder of modern science and... more Introduction to the Fable of Daedalus Francis Bacon was a principal founder of modern science and its aim to achieve power over nature. But he was not naively optimistic about the advancement of science: he promoted it aware of the dangers. We in the final years of the twentieth century are in the privileged and precarious position of witnessing the enormous political ramifications of the success of that project, from nuclear weapons to energy shortages, environmental pollution, Third-World development, pernicious use of the internet and, perhaps the most overwhelming prospect of all, genetic manipulation, which has already revolutionized agriculture, and is now being applied to human beings. It would not be a great exaggeration to say that the gravest problems of modern liberal democracies concern their confrontation with science: with trying to control the enormous power of science and technology so that it is used for good ends, not wicked ones. What can and cannot be done to direct and to control such awesome power, and what should and should not be done, are the questions to which we most urgently require answers. They are elaborated in some detail in the fable "Daedalus," chapter 19 of Bacon's Of the Wisdom of the Ancients, 1 wherein he discusses the mechanical scientist, or inventor. 2 Francis Bacon, De Sapientia Veterum (London, 1609); all translations in this article are mine, from a book in progress, a critical edition of Of the Wisdom of the Ancients, with a new translation, an interpretation and several indices. That "Daedalus" has this subject matter partly explains why Bacon intended the book to be included in a volume of "moral and political writings" that was to be "interposed" between two volumes of his major project, The Great Instauration.
The Review of Politics, 2003
Francis Bacon's pronouncement that "Man is the Center of the World," the final cause of all natur... more Francis Bacon's pronouncement that "Man is the Center of the World," the final cause of all nature, seems to unleash us from all guidance and restraint, providing no grounds for judging any human action to be better or worse than any other. The political implications of such a position-combined with Bacon's efforts to advance technological power-are enormous. There would be little support for natural rights or any other kind of "right" except what is based on force. This famous promoter of scientific power, however, was neither oblivious to the danger, nor politically irresponsible, in his assessment of man's position in the cosmos, and his counsel seems closer to classical political philosophy than is normally acknowledged. This essay provides an examination of and detailed commentary on Bacon's argument, as presented in "Prometheus, or the State of Man." It reveals that Bacon expects us to deal with the problem in terms of properly ranking humans themselves, discarding the notion that all humans are equal. In light of such a ranking we may come to recognize natural standards for evaluating humans and their actions.
The Review of Politics, 1997
Page 1. Francis Bacon: Philosopher or Ideologue? Heidi D. Studer In recent years, Francis Bacon h... more Page 1. Francis Bacon: Philosopher or Ideologue? Heidi D. Studer In recent years, Francis Bacon has been receiving long overdue attention. As we directly confront the problems of modernity, scholars have begun to reexamine ...
The Review of Politics, 2003
Page 1. "Strange Fire at the Altar of the Lord": Francis Bacon on Human Nature Heidi D.... more Page 1. "Strange Fire at the Altar of the Lord": Francis Bacon on Human Nature Heidi D. Studer Francis Bacon's pronouncement that "Man is the Center of the World," the final cause of all nature, seems to unleash us from all ...
Canadian Journal of Political Science, 1998
... E-mail: heidi.studer@ualberta.ca Canadian Journal of Political Science I Revue canadienne de ... more ... E-mail: heidi.studer@ualberta.ca Canadian Journal of Political Science I Revue canadienne de science politique XXXI:2 (June/Juln 1998) 219-34 © 1998 Canadian Political Science Association (1'Association canadienne de science politique) and/et la Socie^d qugbecoise de ...