Forms in The New Organon

While reading Bacon’s The New Organon, I was a little conflicted regarding his opinion of Forms. In aphorism 51 of Book I, he says, “Matter, rather than forms, should be the object of our attention—its configurations and changes of configuration, and simple action…for forms are figments of the human mind.” Then in aphorism 3 of Book II, he says, “From the discovery of Forms, therefore, results truth in speculation and freedom in operation.” I didn’t understand how he could be criticizing the use of forms, articulating that they are rather useless, and then condoning their use in philosophical pursuits.

However, upon a second look at the text, I gained some clarification that reconciles Bacon’s two statements regarding Forms. In aphorism 2 of Book II, he provides his own definition of “Form”, which is an actual “law, with its clauses.” He wants to utilize the idea of forms but not condone the “error of the human mind that opinion that forms give existence.” This definition is crucial in understanding his later discussion on the topic. Also, in aphorism 9, he talks about how the investigation of Forms constitutes metaphysics, and the study of efficient cause and of matter, the latent process, and latent configuration, constitute physics. Both studies look at different parts of the same things, so both are equally necessary. He also calls metaphysics, “Magic, on account of the broadness of the ways it moves in, and its greater command over nature.” So, while metaphysics and, thus, the study of forms cannot be studied in the same concrete way as its counterpart, physics, it still serves a particular function in Bacon’s philosophy.