Who was born in the year 1561 and is known for proposing that only data is important in science?

The person known for being born in 1561 and advocating that only data is important in science is Francis Bacon. Bacon is often credited with developing the empirical method, which emphasizes the importance of observation and evidence gathered from the natural world to inform scientific inquiry. His work laid the groundwork for the modern scientific method, promoting the idea that knowledge should be derived from careful observation and experimentation rather than speculation or reliance on traditional philosophical doctrines.

In contrast to Bacon's empiricism, other figures such as René Descartes focused more on rationalism and deductive reasoning in their philosophical approaches. While Aristotle contributed significantly to many areas of philosophy and science, he lived long before Bacon and had different views about the nature of knowledge and scientific inquiry. John Locke, although also an advocate for empiricism, was born later and does not specifically emphasize the same foundational ideas that Bacon did regarding data and observation in science. Thus, Bacon's emphasis on data-centric approaches in science makes him the correct answer in this context.