Where Have You Gone Roger Bacon?

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Where Have You Gone Roger Bacon? => Spring 2005

Guy I. Benrubi, M.D.

The oldest university in the English speaking world is Oxford. Though the institution was organized insidiously over many years, by 1096 there was definitive evidence that instruction in many areas was occurring there. The greatest pride of Oxford during the first one-third of the University’s existence was Roger Bacon (1214 - 1292). A Franciscan Friar, Bacon was ahead of his era by demanding that his students not spend their time in the scholastic pursuits of memorization of Aristotelian and other received dogmas, but instead spend their time in "verifying" reality by "experience and action." His admonition to them was: "In order to enter into the mystery of nature, only one way exists: experimental science." He studied chemistry and physics. He invented magnifying lenses for viewing distant objects. He proved that the Julian calendar imprecisely predicted the solar year. He postulated that fast moving and flying vehicles were eventually possible. He is thought to have independently invented gun powder. He said that if he could, he would burn all the translations of Aristotle so that his students might open their own eyes and see the world.

He was vilified for his efforts. He was accused of heresy and of being a magician. His colleagues cursed him and threw him out of the University. He returned, and was as vocal in his beliefs as ever. He was imprisoned for 14 years. He never gave up in his fight to spread his vision of independent inquiry.

We live at an age where the scientific method is constantly under attack. Unfortunately, this is occurring in our own society and not just in some “backward” areas of the earth. The situation would be dire enough were the assault on science limited to homeopaths, aromatherapists, astrologers, supplement sellers, and other purveyors of quackery who try to get a piece of the unregulated health care dollar. But, unfortunately, the assault does not stop there. We have recently seen governmental agencies, such as the FDA, make regulatory decisions, not on the basis of science, but on the basis of political and social agendas.

It is the role of the medical profession to ensure the health of the community. That assurance can be accomplished only if we continue to be the strongest united possible advocates for our patients. Access and affordability are the rallying cries of medical reformers. Science and quality must be equally, if not more forcefully, advocated.