In Thomas Fowler’s edition of the Novum Organum, the primary reference to Bernardino Telesio as the "first of the moderns" (novorum hominum primus) occurs on page 13 of the Introduction. [1, 2]
- The Quote's Origin: He cites Bacon’s own words from De Principiis atque Originibus, where Bacon describes Telesio as "novorum hominum primus" (the first of the new men).
- Significance: Fowler explains that Telesio is "the first of the moderns who made any successful attempt to construct a system of philosophy on a physical basis," serving as a bridge between the Scholastics and Bacon's inductive method.
- Additional References: Telesio is also mentioned in Fowler's detailed notes on the text, particularly in relation to Book I, Aphorism 116, where Bacon critiques those who have attempted to create "new systems of the universe." [1, 2]
In his 1889 edition of Novum Organum, Thomas Fowler highlights Francis Bacon’s characterization of Bernardino Telesio by quoting a specific Latin phrase, often citing it within his introductory notes on Bacon's influences. This quote, which identifies Telesio as the "first of the new men" and a pioneer against Aristotelian thought, is sourced directly from Bacon’s De Principiis atque Originibus.






























































