Why did Francis Bacon value observation and induction in studying nature?

Francis Bacon valued observation and induction because he believed that existing systems of natural philosophy were fundamentally flawed, relying too heavily on "fanciful guessing," uncritical acceptance of authorities, and hasty generalizations from insufficient evidence.123

To reestablish science on a firm foundation, Bacon proposed a new scientific method centered on the "fresh examination of particulars". He argued that true knowledge must be built through a "gradual ascent"—the patient, methodical accumulation of facts—rather than through intuitive deduction from self-evident axioms.143

His inductive approach utilized "tables of discovery" (tables of presence, absence, and degree) to systematically organize evidence. By using these tools to eliminate false generalizations, he aimed to identify the true causes and "forms" of natural phenomena. Ultimately, Bacon championed this empirical process as the only valid source of knowledge, viewing science as a cumulative, collaborative, and methodical endeavor intended to provide material benefits to humanity.14235