Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon[1†]

Francis Bacon, aka Lord Verulam, was an English philosopher and statesman, born January 22, 1561, in London, England, and died April 9, 1626. Known for his insightful essays, eloquence in Parliament, and advocacy for scientific advancement. He pioneered empiricism, advocating for scientific knowledge through induction and observation. Bacon's legacy extends to his role in the Scientific Revolution, earning him the title "father of empiricism"[1†][2†].

Early Years and Education

Francis Bacon was born on January 22, 1561, at York House off the Strand, London[2†][3†]. He was the younger of the two sons of the lord keeper, Sir Nicholas Bacon, by his second marriage[2†]. His father, Nicholas Bacon, born in comparatively humble circumstances, had risen to become lord keeper of the great seal[2†].

Bacon’s formative years were influenced by his upper-class background[2†][4†]. He embarked on a journey of education, tutored at home and at the University of Cambridge[2†][4†]. Immersed in Latin lessons, he delved into subjects such as arithmetic, astronomy, geometry, music theory, logic, and rhetoric[2†][4†].

Biographers believe that Bacon was educated at home in his early years owing to poor health, which would plague him throughout his life[2†][5†]. He received tuition from John Walsall, a graduate of Oxford with a strong leaning toward Puritanism[2†][5†].

He later went to study at Trinity College at the University of Cambridge[2†][3†]. There, Francis and his brother Anthony received personal training under the tutelage of Dr. John Whitgift[2†][3†]. Francis entered de societate magistrorum at Gray’s Inn in 1576[2†][3†]. Later, he travelled abroad and visited France, Italy, and Spain[2†][3†]. He continued his education during his trips and also took up a few diplomatic tasks[2†][3†].

His father died suddenly in 1579 and Francis had to return home[2†][3†]. In 1579, Francis Bacon took up his residence in law at Gray’s Inn to support himself while looking for a better position[2†][3†].

Career Development and Achievements

Francis Bacon’s career began in 1581 when he was elected Member of Parliament for Bossiney, Cornwall[6†]. He served as an outer barrister in 1582 and became a bencher, a senior member of an Inn of Court in England, in 1586[6†]. In 1587, he was elected as the Reader, a senior barrister of the Inn who was elected to deliver a series of lectures on a particular legal topic[6†]. In 1596, Bacon became Queen’s Counsel, a lawyer appointed by the Queen to be one of “Her Majesty’s Counsel learned in the law”[6†].

His career took off after James I became King of England in 1603[6†]. In 1613, he was appointed to the prestigious post of Attorney General[6†]. In 1618, at the age of 56, Francis Bacon was made Lord Chancellor, the highest position in England’s legal profession and one of the most powerful posts in the country[6†].

Bacon was a prolific writer who wrote on a range of subjects including science, law, philosophy, religion; and he even wrote fiction[6†]. His most influential works include “Novum Organum”, “New Atlantis” and "The Advancement of Learning"[6†]. He proposed reformation of all process of knowledge for the advancement of learning divine and human in his work "Instauratio Magna (The Great Instauration)"[6†][7†].

Bacon is known as the father of contemporary science[6†][7†]. He initiated a huge reformation of each and every process of knowledge[6†][7†]. As an inventor of empiricism, he made a set of inductive and empirical methods for setting off scientific inquiry, commonly known now as the Baconian method[6†][7†].

First Publication of His Main Works

Francis Bacon’s writings concentrated on philosophy and judicial reform[8†][9†]. His most significant work is the Instauratio Magna, which comprises two parts - The Advancement of Learning and the Novum Organum[8†][9†].

• The Great Instauration (Instauratio Magna): This work is considered a significant part of Bacon’s contribution to the development of scientific method[8†][10†]. The Great Instauration was planned in imitation of the Divine Work – the Work of the Six Days of Creation, as defined in the Bible[8†][10†]. For Bacon, this reformation would lead to a great advancement in science and a progeny of new inventions that would relieve mankind’s miseries and needs[8†][10†].
• Novum Organum: Published in 1620, the Novum Organum is a philosophical work that established and popularized inductive methodologies for scientific inquiry[8†][10†]. This work is often associated with the Baconian method, or simply the Scientific Method[8†][10†]. In Novum Organum, Bacon stated his view that the restoration of science was part of the “partial returning of mankind to the state it lived before the fall”, restoring its dominion over creation[8†][10†].
• The Advancement of Learning: This work is part of the Instauratio Magna and is dedicated to the exploration of new methods of knowledge acquisition[8†][10†]. It is a testament to Bacon’s belief in the potential of organized and systematic knowledge to improve the human condition[8†][10†].
• New Atlantis: This is a utopian novel by Bacon, portraying a vision of the future in which science and technology play a significant role in society[8†][6†]. It is considered one of his most influential works[8†][6†].
• De Sapientia Veterum (Wisdom of the Ancients): This is a collection of essays in which Bacon deciphers and interprets ancient myths, revealing what he believed to be the wisdom and knowledge contained within[8†][2†].

These works have had a profound impact on the development of scientific methodology and remain influential in the field of philosophy[8†][10†][2†][8†][6†][9†].

Analysis and Evaluation

Francis Bacon’s works, particularly his essays, are characterized by their aphoristic style, employing concise and epigrammatic sentences to convey his ideas[11†]. This style, while praised for its clarity and effectiveness, has also been criticized for its lack of nuance and depth[11†]. Some critics argue that Bacon’s essays, in their pursuit of brevity, often sacrifice complexity and fail to fully explore the intricacies of the topics they address[11†]. Despite this criticism, Bacon’s essays remain valuable for their practical wisdom and insights into human behavior[11†].

Bacon’s writings often lack depth and fail to provide a substantive analysis of the topics he discusses[11†]. Critics point to his tendency to offer generalizations and platitudes rather than engaging in rigorous philosophical inquiry[11†]. Furthermore, Bacon has been accused of lacking originality[11†]. Critics argue that his ideas were often borrowed from earlier thinkers, and that he failed to make significant contributions to philosophical or scientific discourse[11†]. Despite these criticisms, Bacon’s essays remain widely read and studied[11†].

Bacon’s essays have also been criticized for their elitist worldview[11†]. Critics point to his emphasis on social hierarchy, his belief in the superiority of the educated elite, and his disregard for the perspectives of the common people[11†]. Additionally, Bacon’s language has been criticized for its exclusionary nature, often using gendered and classist terminology that reinforces social inequalities[11†].

Despite these criticisms, Bacon’s insights into human nature, his practical advice, and his concise and engaging style continue to resonate with readers across generations[11†]. His works have had a profound impact on the development of scientific methodology and remain influential in the field of philosophy[11†][12†][13†][14†][1†].

Personal Life

Francis Bacon was born to Sir Nicholas Bacon, keeper of the great seal for Elizabeth I[15†]. His mother was Lady Anne Bacon[15†][1†]. He was the younger of the two sons[15†][2†]. His cousin through his mother was Robert Cecil, later earl of Salisbury and chief minister of the crown at the end of Elizabeth I’s reign and the beginning of James I’s[15†][2†].

Bacon was married to Alice Barnham[15†][1†]. However, his personal life was marked by allegations regarding his homosexual leanings[15†][16†]. These allegations led to his parents banishing him at age 16[15†][16†].

Bacon was also known for his role in the scientific revolution, promoting scientific experimentation as a way of glorifying God and fulfilling scripture[15†][1†]. He was a patron of libraries and developed a system for cataloguing books under three categories – history, poetry, and philosophy[15†][1†]. He had a famous quote about books, "Some books are to be tasted; others swallowed; and some few to be chewed and digested."[15†][1†]

Conclusion and Legacy

Francis Bacon’s legacy is vast and enduring. He is considered one of the most important philosophers and scientists of the Scientific Revolution[17†]. His work on the scientific method has had a lasting impact on the development of science[17†]. He has been called the father of empiricism[17†][1†]. He argued for the possibility of scientific knowledge based only upon inductive reasoning and careful observation of events in nature[17†][1†].

Despite having a successful career and a position of power in society, he was plagued by financial woes[17†][3†]. He fell into deep debt and was charged with several cases of corruption, following which his high-profile career ended in disgrace[17†][3†]. As a philosopher, he left behind a rich legacy in scientific, juridical, religious, and literary works[17†][3†].

Bacon’s influence reaches far beyond his own medium. It reverberates distinctively in the sculptures of Bruce Nauman and the videos and installations of Matthew Barney[17†]. His last unfinished painting inspired Peter Welz and William Forsythe to create a video installation in response to the piece[17†].

Key Information

• Also Known As: Francis Bacon, Viscount Saint Alban[2†][1†]
• Born: January 22, 1561, York House, London, England[2†][1†]
• Died: April 9, 1626, London, England[2†][1†]
• Nationality: English[2†][1†]
• Occupation: Philosopher, statesman, Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England under King James I[2†][1†]
• Notable Works: “Advancement of Learning”, “Commentarius Solutus”, “De Sapientia Veterum”, “Instauratio Magna”, “Novum Organum”, “The New Atlantis” among others[2†][1†]
• Notable Achievements: Bacon led the advancement of both natural philosophy and the scientific method. His works remained influential even in the late stages of the Scientific Revolution[2†][1†]. He has been called the father of empiricism[2†][1†]. He argued for the possibility of scientific knowledge based only upon inductive reasoning and careful observation of events in nature[2†][1†]. He believed that science could be achieved by the use of a sceptical and methodical approach whereby scientists aim to avoid misleading themselves[2†][1†].

References and Citations:

1. Wikipedia (English) - Francis Bacon [website] - link
2. Britannica - Francis Bacon: British author, philosopher, and statesman [website] - link
3. The Famous People - Francis Bacon Biography [website] - link
4. The News Voice - Francis Bacon's Inventions, Early Life, Education and History [website] - link
5. British Heritage - Francis Bacon - 1600's Father of Science [website] - link
6. Learnodo Newtonic - 10 Major Accomplishments of Sir Francis Bacon [website] - link
7. Totallyhistory.com - Francis Bacon Biography - Life of English Philosopher [website] - link
8. Cambridge University Press - The Works of Francis Bacon [website] - link
9. Cambridge University Press - The Works of Francis Bacon [website] - link
10. Wikipedia (English) - Works by Francis Bacon [website] - link
11. Republic Policy - A Critical Evaluation of Francis Bacon's Essays [website] - link
12. LitPriest - Of Studies by Francis Bacon Summary & Analysis [website] - link
13. IPL.org - Critical Analysis Of Francis Bacon [website] - link
14. The Guardian - Francis Bacon: Revelations by Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan review – a captivating triumph [website] - link
15. BBC History - Historic Figures - Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626) [website] - link
16. Britannica - Francis Bacon: British painter [website] - link
17. English History - Sir Francis Bacon – A Philosopher and Statesman Who Changed the World [website] - link