"The strongest arguments prove nothing so long as the conclusions are not verified by experience. Experimental science is the queen of sciences and the goal of all speculation"

Roger Bacon's quote highlights the centrality of empirical evidence in the acquisition of knowledge, highlighting that the strength of an argument is just as good as its validation through experience. In this context, Bacon presumes that even the most rationally sound and engaging arguments remain unproductive if they are not substantiated by real-world experience or experimental validation. This perspective is a precursor to the contemporary clinical approach, which focuses on experimentation and observation as the structure for establishing truths.

Bacon's recommendation to "experimental science as the queen of sciences" signifies a paradigm shift from simply speculative or philosophical methods to a methodology grounded in empirical examination. Throughout Bacon's time, the 13th century, there was a substantial dependence on philosophical thinking and reduction based upon recognized texts, especially those of ancient authorities like Aristotle. Bacon challenged this custom, promoting instead for a process that involves observation, experimentation, and the iterative screening of hypotheses.

By explaining speculative science as the "goal of all speculation", Bacon asserts that intellectual inquiry without empirical confirmation is ultimately unsuccessful. Speculation, while valuable for generating hypotheses, requires the rigors of speculative science to transition from theoretical musings to verified understanding. This idea underscores the need of a clinical approach that does not simply accept conclusions based on theoretical arguments but looks for to validate them through observable and repeatable outcomes.

Bacon's insights laid the groundwork for the empirical methodologies that have actually ended up being the foundation of scientific inquiry today. His insistence on experience as a critical arbiter of reality shows a commitment to the idea that understanding should be rooted in truth, not simply in abstract thinking. Thus, Bacon's quote underscores the enduring worth of a clinical approach to comprehending the world, one that prioritizes verification through experience as the ultimate test of reality.