来源 / Source: Wikisource

Source / 来源: Wikisource

新工具：四种假象

Novum Organum: The Four Idols

弗朗西斯·培根 (Francis Bacon)Spedding, Ellis, and Heath 译 (1863)

Francis BaconTranslated by Spedding, Ellis, and Heath (1863)

假象学说

The Doctrine of Idols

XXXVIII (38). 现今占据人类理智并深植其中的假象和错误观念，不仅如此围困人类的心灵以致真理很难找到进入的途径，而且即使真理得以进入，它们也会在科学的复兴（instauration）中再次遭遇并困扰我们，除非人们预先得到警告，并尽可能地武装自己以防备它们的侵袭。

XXXVIII. The idols and false notions which are now in possession of the human understanding, and have taken deep root therein, not only so beset men's minds that truth can hardly find entrance, but even after entrance is obtained, they will again in the very instauration of the sciences meet and trouble us, unless men being forewarned of the danger fortify themselves as far as may be against their assaults.

XXXIX (39). 困扰人类心灵的假象有四类。为了区别起见，我给它们起了名字。

XXXIX. There are four classes of Idols which beset men's minds. To these for distinction's sake I have assigned names.

1. 种族假象 (Idola Tribus)
2. 洞穴假象 (Idola Specus)
3. 市场假象 (Idola Fori)
4. 剧场假象 (Idola Theatri)

1. Idols of the Tribe (Idola Tribus)
2. Idols of the Cave (Idola Specus)
3. Idols of the Market-place (Idola Fori)
4. Idols of the Theatre (Idola Theatri)

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假象分析

Analysis of the Idols

I. 种族假象 (Idola Tribus)

I. Idols of the Tribe (Idola Tribus)

XLI (41). 种族假象植根于人类本性之中，植根于人类这一种族或族类之中。

XLI. The Idols of the Tribe have their foundation in human nature itself, and in the tribe or race of men.

因为断言人的感官是事物的尺度，这是一种错误的说法。

For it is a false assertion that the sense of man is the measure of things.

相反，所有的知觉，无论是感官的还是心灵的，都是根据个人的尺度，而不是根据宇宙的尺度。人类的理智就像一面不平整的镜子，它不规则地接收光线，把自己的性质掺杂到事物的性质中，从而使事物的性质变形和变色。

On the contrary, all perceptions as well of the sense as of the mind are according to the measure of the individual and not according to the measure of the universe. And the human understanding is like a false mirror, which, receiving rays irregularly, distorts and discolours the nature of things by mingling its own nature with it.

$$\begin{gathered} P_{erception}\ne T_{ruth} \\ {P}_{erception}=f(T_{ruth}+\text{Human Nature}) \end{gathered}$$

$$\begin{gathered} P_{erception}\ne T_{ruth} \\ {P}_{erception}=f(T_{ruth}+\text{Human Nature}) \end{gathered}$$

(感知 ≠ 真理；感知 = f(真理 + 人类本性))

(Perception ≠ Truth; Perception = f(Truth + Human Nature))

II. 洞穴假象 (Idola Specus)

II. Idols of the Cave (Idola Specus)

XLII (42). 洞穴假象是个人的假象。因为每个人（除了人类本性普遍共有的错误之外）都有一个属于他自己的洞穴或巢穴，它折射并改变了自然之光；这或者是由于他自己独特的本性；或者是由于他的教育和与他人的交谈；或者是由于阅读书籍，以及对他所尊敬和仰慕的人的权威。

XLII. The Idols of the Cave are the idols of the individual man. For every one (besides the errors common to human nature in general) has a cave or den of his own, which refracts and discolours the light of nature; owing either to his own proper and peculiar nature; or to his education and conversation with others; or to the reading of books, and the authority of those whom he esteems and admires.

因此，人类的精神（正如它在不同个体中的分布那样）实际上是一个多变且充满扰动的东西，仿佛受偶然性的支配。

So that the spirit of man (according as it is meted out to different individuals) is in fact a thing variable and full of perturbation, and governed as it were by chance.

III. 市场假象 (Idola Fori)

III. Idols of the Market-place (Idola Fori)

XLIII (43). 还有一种假象是由人们相互间的交往和联系形成的，鉴于人们在市场上的往来和聚会，我称之为市场假象。因为人们靠言语进行交往，而语词的制定是根据俗人的理解能力的。因此，糟糕和不恰当的语词选择奇特地阻碍了理解力。

XLIII. There are also Idols formed by the intercourse and association of men with each other, which I call Idols of the Market-place, on account of the commerce and consort of men there. For it is by discourse that men associate, and words are imposed according to the apprehension of the vulgar. And therefore the ill and unfit choice of words wonderfully obstructs the understanding.

• 语词强迫理解力。
• 语词把一切都搞得混乱不堪。
• 语词把人们引向无数空洞的争论和无聊的幻想。

• Words force the understanding.
• Words throw all into confusion.
• Words lead men away into numberless empty controversies and idle fancies.

IV. 剧场假象 (Idola Theatri)

IV. Idols of the Theatre (Idola Theatri)

XLIV (44). 最后，还有一种假象是从各种哲学的教条以及错误的论证法则中移入人心的。我称之为剧场假象；因为在我看来，所有已被接受的体系都不过是许多舞台剧，以一种不真实的、戏剧性的方式表现着它们自己创造的世界。

XLIV. Lastly, there are Idols which have immigrated into men's minds from the various dogmas of philosophies, and also from wrong laws of demonstration. These I call Idols of the Theatre; because in my judgment all the received systems are but so many stage-plays, representing worlds of their own creation after an unreal and scenic fashion.

我所说的不仅指目前流行的体系，也不仅指古代的派别和哲学；因为同样类型的许多剧本还可以被创作出来，并以同样人为的方式上演；既然即使最广泛不同的错误，其原因在很大程度上也是相同的。

Nor is it only of the systems now in vogue, or only of the ancient sects and philosophies, that I speak; for many more plays of the same kind may yet be composed and in like artificial manner set forth; seeing that errors the most widely different have nevertheless causes for the most part alike.