But one must be careful when speaking of 'experimental science' before the Enlightenment, for it often meant demonstrating what one already knew to be the case – and if experiment seemed to contradict axiomatic reason, so much the worse for experiment.
In "Seeing Further: The Story of Science and the Royal Society," Bill Bryson highlights the nuances associated with the concept of 'experimental science' prior to the Enlightenment. During this period, experiments were often conducted to validate established knowledge rather than to explore new ideas. This practice meant that experiments could be disregarded if they contradicted known truths, emphasizing a rigid adherence to preconceived notions of reality.
Consequently, the scientific approach of the time was less about discovery and more about affirmation. Bryson’s examination sheds light on how the framework of scientific inquiry evolved, eventually embracing experimentation as fundamental to knowledge acquisition, paving the way for more progressive scientific methods that would emerge in the Enlightenment era.
