Roger Bacon, O.F.M.

(c. 1214–1294) (scholastic accolade Doctor Mirabilis, meaning "wonderful teacher"), is an English philosopher and Franciscan friar who places considerable emphasis on the study of nature through empirical methods.

He is sometimes credited, mainly starting in the 19th century, as one of the earliest European advocates of the modern scientific method inspired by Aristotle and later Arabic scholars, such as those of Muslim scientist Alhazen.

However, more recent reevaluations emphasize that he is essentially a medieval thinker, with much of his "experimental" knowledge obtained from books, in the scholastic tradition.

A survey of the reception of Bacon's work over centuries finds it often reflects the concerns and controversies central to the receivers.