Of Studies by Francis Bacon PDF

Works of Francis Bacon 2.2 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Francis Bacon was born on January 22, 1561. He was of poor health throughout NOTES his life, yet it does not appear to have had an impact on his intellect. Francis Bacon...

Works of Francis Bacon 2.2 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Francis Bacon was born on January 22, 1561. He was of poor health throughout NOTES his life, yet it does not appear to have had an impact on his intellect. Francis Bacon was born near the Strand in London. Due to his health issues, young Francis Bacon was educated at home during his early childhood by his parents, Sir Nicholas Bacon and Anne Cooke Bacon. His parents hired John Walsall, a graduate of Oxford University to tutor him. Francis Bacon is said to have studied Latin as well as English, according to the medieval curriculum of the times. Besides being an author, Bacon was also a jurist, politician, orator, scientist and philosopher. After being educated at home during his early childhood, Francis Bacon enrolled at Trinity College in the year 1573 at the age of 12 years along with his older brother Anthony Bacon. At Trinity College in Cambridge, Francis Bacon studied under the personal care of Dr. John Whitgift. Dr. Whitgift later became the Archbishop of Canterbury. Francis Bacon met Queen Elizabeth for the first time at Cambridge. Queen Elizabeth was greatly impressed by his intellect, and used to, throughout her life, refer him as ‘the young lord keeper’. As a result of his education, Francis Bacon came to the conclusion that the methods and outcomes of science as was then prevalent were completely wrong. Francis Bacon idolized the philosopher Aristotle, but despite that idolization, he did not agree with the philosophy as established by Aristotle. Bacon thought and believed that the philosophy of Aristotle was without any objectives or purpose and completely barren. Sometime towards the end of the year 1576, Francis Bacon left Britain to travel to France with Sir Amias Paulet, who was then the British ambassador to Paris. However, Anthony Bacon continued his education in England. France was at that time being ruled by Henry III. The political environment and government policies prevalent in France at the time had a lasting impression on the young Francis Bacon. Along with Sir Paulet perhaps, Francis Bacon spent the next three years travelling widely across Europe. It appears that Francis Bacon worked as an assistant or intern with Sir Paulet, undertaking various routine diplomatic assignments. But those years and Travel proved extremely valuable and educative for the young Francis Bacon. He learned governance, languages as well as civil law. On different occasions, his work required Francis Bacon to deliver diplomatic letters to England, not just to eminent politicians of the time, but also to Queen Elizabeth. Francis Bacon’s father Sir Nicholas died suddenly in the year 1579. After this, Bacon decided to return to England. Sir Nicholas had apparently set aside a substantial amount of money for Francis Bacon who was his youngest son. But before he could buy his son the estate, Sir Nicholas had died. This meant that Francis Bacon received, in actuality only about one fifth of the amount his father had set up or him in trust. The young Bacon had apparently borrowed money, and this left him in debt. In order to pay his dues and earn a living, Francis Bacon took up a job at Gray’s Inn as a resident lawyer. However, his mother Lady Anne had to support him with a separate grant. Self - Learning 58 Material  Later, Francis Bacon remarked that he had three goals in his life: to find Works of Francis Bacon truth, serve his country and serve his church. Francis Bacon began his political career as a Member of Parliament for Bossiney in Cornwall district in the year 1581. He became a member of the Puritan church, and began writing in support of the Puritan clergy, criticizing the English church for its oppression of the Puritan NOTES church and its clergy. Francis Bacon began to rise quickly in his political and judicial life after James I ascended to the throne of England. It began with his knighthood in 1603, later being appointed as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor. After he was made Lord Chancellor, Francis Bacon was charged with 23 counts of bribe taken in return for legal favours. In a public admittance of guilt, however, he claimed to the parliamentary committee that went to his house to question him, that although he admitted to his guilt, his hands and heart were clean. Significantly, he also wrote to Buckingham Palace and the king that his heart and hands were clean, and had always been so. He was charged with bribery, and was asked to pay 40,000 pounds as fine. He was also confined to prison, which was then housed in the Tower of London. It was after his public career ended in such disgrace that Francis Bacon devoted his life entirely to study and research, writing many articles and essays on his philosophies and analytical thinking. As far as his writing was concerned, Francis Bacon appears to have been as good an editor as he was a writer. Although his work contained short sentences that conveyed multiple means and thoughts to his audience, he became known for the shortness or brevity of his sentences. Most of his writing later became a model for younger writers. His philosophies and studies seemed to have led him to write mostly on the wisdom of focusing on science as a basis for life. It is contrary to his personal claim of being a devout Anglican, because as a scientist, his writing also questioned the authenticity of God. Check Your Progress 1. When was Francis Bacon born? 2. What were the other qualifications of Francis Bacon besides being an author? 2.3 BACON AS A CHILD OF RENAISSANCE Bacon’s genius was versatile and his personality colourful. Taken as a whole, Bacon was an enigma to many of his own generation and to most of subsequent generations. Bacon was the child of the Renaissance. He was highly educated, and a thoroughbred scholar with an encyclopaedic range of knowledge. He was a scientist. His love for experimentation was the cause of his death. He caught a cold while performing experiments and this resulted in his death. He was a very widely travelled man. The scholars of his age did not consider their education complete unless they had supplemented their education with foreign travel. Thus, Self - Learning Material 59 Works of Francis Bacon Bacon was not only an accomplished scholar, he was also a man of great wisdom and practical experience. His knowledge and experience helped him in securing important positions. He was a great statesman, and a true policeman, who excelled in manoeuvring and manipulation. For him no holds were barred to gain personal NOTES advantages of position and power. He rose to great heights but also paid the penalty of impropriety and immoral conduct. But in an age in which Bacon lived such jockeying for power and unscrupulous conduct were not uncommon. Although Bacon did not write a single word about himself in his essays, we can make a fairly accurate estimate of the man and his general mental make-up from them. Bacon has rightly been called a true and representative child of the Renaissance. Bacon’s Utilitarian Attitude Bacon is one of the most colourful personalities of English literature, celebrated not only for his literary worth and innovative genius but also for his versatility and wisdom. Bacon was a child of the Renaissance and represents the best of both the old and new spirits. Bacon was no doubt a man of the practical world and believed in political and economic power but he was not an atheist. He was a Protestant Christian, a follower of the Church of England but he was not a religious activist. Though religious and spiritualistic considerations left Bacon indifferent and cold, it should not be inferred that he was oblivious of the virtues and the religious and spiritualistic considerations altogether. Bacon’s Morality Bacon’s life reveals the dichotomy of values in his personal conduct and the same duality appears in his writings. He is practical and mundane to his fingertips. He is also rational and prudential. The predominance of intellect precludes emotional and sentimental approach. All these factors combined to make Bacon opportunistic, utilitarian and Machiavellian. The political atmosphere of that time was congenial to the promotion of such traits. Bacon writes chiefly for the benefit of the kings, princes and aristocrats and for the safeguarding of their interests was his avowed aim. He counsels and advocates shrewdness in order to achieve material progress and prosperity. To Bacon the means had no meaning. He was concerned with the ends. It is for this reason that we find him cold and aloof from moralistic and spiritual considerations. They do not fit into his scheme of things. He advocates secrecy to achieve success. Bacon is not ignorant of the value and nobility of virtue and virtuous conduct but as a man of great practical wisdom and sagacity he advocates the mixture of ‘falsehood’. Bacon is too worldly and practical to be swayed by the sentiment of virtuosity. He makes necessity the occasion of being moral and noble and virtuous. The following expression proves it: ‘This is certain, that a man that studied revenge keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well’. (‘Of Revenge’) Self - Learning 60 Material Thus, Bacon’s morality is the morality of convenience. Works of Francis Bacon Bacon’s Worldly Wisdom As we have already seen, practical considerations rule supreme in Bacon’s scheme of things, and spiritual, moral and religious considerations take a back seat. But NOTES Bacon is a great scholar, steeped in classical learning, mythology and scriptures. His essays are full of quotations from, ‘Vulgate’ (the Latin Version of the Bible) and have ample references and illusions to historical and mythological occurrences mentioned in the ancient masters. We find in his essays passages which are of great significance (and where no morality or selfish interests harmful to others are involved). His essay, Of Studies is such a gem of pure and serene wisdom wherein he writes such statements such as:  ‘Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability’.  ‘They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants that need pruning by study’  ‘Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find, talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider’.  ‘Readings make a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man’.  ‘Histories make man wise; poets witty, the mathematics subtle, natural philosophy deep, moral grave, logic and rhetoric able to contend’. This too is worldly wisdom but it is not mixed with any basic instinct or degenerate and evil mundane consideration. 2.3.1 Universal Appeal of his Essays Sir Francis Bacon was a man of great resourcefulness. In considering the universal appeal of his essays this fact about Bacon has to be constantly kept in mind. His versatility encompassed his encyclopaedic range of literature, mythology, history and knowledge about human nature and affairs. He gained this knowledge through personal experiences and his foreign Travel. The greatness of the man can be gauged from the fact that his contribution to language and literature is considerable. He imported into English literature a new genre called the Essay (the name given by him) and therefore is known as the father of English Essay. He is still considered one of the greatest essayists in the language. His contribution to the development of modern English prose and prose style earned him yet another accolade of being termed the father of the Modern English Prose. These tributes are a confirmation of Bacon’s popularity among successive generations. The essays have a special flavour which make them popular with all classes of readers. The more we read them the more we fall under the spell of their charm and wisdom. The same essay can be read many times over without losing either its interest or utility. The subsequent readings, on the contrary, yield more wisdom Self - Learning Material 61 Works of Francis Bacon and pleasure. Among the reasons for the continued popularity of his essays are their variety of themes, the wisdom contained in them, their utility in the practical life, their human interest, and above all their cunning character. Bacon was a very busy and active person. From a very early age he had NOTES cultivated the habit of jotting down notes of everything that interested or enlightened him. This habit equipped him with material on almost all topics of human interest. Bacon made use of these notes and jottings in the composition of his essays. When we look at Bacon’s essays, the first thing that catches our attention is their wide variety of themes. He has written on lofty subjects like truth, love, friendship, death and on subjects concerned with a person’s conduct in society, religious and metaphysical subjects; on subjects concerned with the affairs of the state and politics; as well as essays on very common place topics such as gardens, buildings, masques and triumphs. Whatever be the topic, the essays are characterized by knowledge and critical insight and observation, wisdom and common sense and shrewd and original conclusions. Bacon’s practical wisdom and approach and a convenient disregard of the moral and the virtuous is both intriguing and disturbing to a casual reader. But Bacon’s essays are almost always interesting, informative and enlightening. Another remarkable feature of Bacon’s essays is their human interest. His essays both interest and enlighten the readers transcending the barriers of time and countries because they are not addressed to a people of one country or one age, they are concerned with humanity at large Bacon observed the common man from a height and his observations are not in an informal manner. The tone is always moralizing. He preaches and sermonizes, cautions and advises but he does not always command respect. At times, Bacon becomes more interesting (on account of his mysterious personality) than his essays, the reason being his preoccupation with the practical aspect of everything. Bacon’s essays are full of gems of wisdom, and mostly worldly wisdom. Bacon was born in an age which happened to be the meeting point of the old and the new. So while Bacon retained an interest in the abiding moral values he tempered this interest with practical wisdom which taught him to care more for the end and less for the means. Besides caution we come across practicality in his essays. His essays are a store house of practical wisdom and teachings for a person aspiring to achieve power, position and material possession in a society full of treachery, intrigue, conspiracy, flattery and others. Bacon proposes that to be successful in an atmosphere of opposition and hostility, a person has to be unscrupulous. His morality is really intriguing and mystifying but there is not the least doubt that his counsels are useful for the common man although his essays were primarily meant for an aspiring young aristocrat who had set his eye to advance materially. Passions and emotions have no place in Bacon’s scheme of things as the virtue of ‘giving’ also has no meaning for him. He values a thing only for what it gives. He is a utilitarian valuing the end and disregarding the means. But it should not be inferred that he was not aware of morality, virtue or values in life. He not only knew them but admired them also. But, whenever they interfered with practical situations, he ignored them. His morality and philosophy were Machiavellian and Self - Learning 62 Material of convenience. This contradiction has baffled many but it was in his nature. He Works of Francis Bacon practiced it in his own life and earned from Pope the remark: ‘The wisest, brightest and meanest of mankind’. And from Blake for his essays: ‘Good advice for the kingdom of Satan’. Essays of Bacon, although deficient in emotional content, are rich in imagery. NOTES Check Your Progress 3. How was Bacon a product of the Renaissance? 4. Why do critics call Bacon’s morality the morality of convenience? 2.4 ‘OF STUDIES’ STUDIES serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment, and disposition of business. For expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best, from those that are learned. To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar. They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need proyning, by study; and studies themselves, do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them, and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books, else distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy things. Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit: and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know, that he doth not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtile; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores. Nay, there is no stond or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies; like as diseases of the body, may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. So if a man’s wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the Schoolmen; for they are cymini sectores. If he be not Self - Learning Material 63 Works of Francis Bacon apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study 197 the lawyers’ cases. So every defect of the mind, may have a special receipt. 2.4.1 Summary NOTES According to Bacon, studies are a source of delight and pleasure. They increase one’s value in terms of knowledge gained and also provide joy. A man who enjoys solitude and aloofness can enjoy studies in the best way. It also provides wisdom to a man and he becomes a good conversationalist. Studies motivate an individual to be a good talker. The business matters are handled in the best of the efforts by a well-read man. He gets the advantage of being an avid reader by being knowledgeable in all fields. His studies add an ornamental value to his demeanour. There are also some demerits of studies, if they are done in excess, it makes the people lazy. Many people also deliberately read for long hours to become good at conversations but their reading for purpose of conversation becomes futile as they make a vain display of their learning. Bacon says, ‘To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation.’ A scholar becomes eccentric if he only follows the written and laid down rules learnt from books. A man’s natural ability to discover truth is empowered and motivated by studies. He reaches to perfection by his vast and potential studies. The knowledge obtained from books should not be divorced from the practical knowledge and experience. Practical experience lends value to studies. True guidance is provided by studies. The norms may be fake and abstract but in-depth studies provide guidance. Practical experiences add to the beauty of the knowledge contained in the books. Sheer knowledge derived from the books is not worthwhile without any practical knowledge and experiences. He further says and develops his thought stating that cunning people do not approve of studies. Simple-minded people have admiration for studies. But the wise men utilize studies in their practical usage. They implement the knowledge contained in books. They are not the sole followers of the abstract knowledge contained in the books, but also make a practical use of their studies. Bacon says, ‘crafty men condemn studies; simple men admire them; and wise men use them. For they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them, and above them, won by observation’. People should not study merely to contradict others. One should not be a firm believer in the written things. He should also apply his logic and reason to confirm the facts given in the books. He should not read only to find material for conversation. A man should read and ponder over intensively whatever he reads and whatever triggers his mind. He should also be able to judge the value of whatever is contained in the books. Further in his essay, Bacon gives a very interesting description of books. He says that some books are to be read in parts only. They are to be read hurriedly and in a rush; only few books are worth reading in their fullness of thoughts and ideas. They should be read thoroughly and intensely. He says, ‘some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested’. Self - Learning 64 Material  Some books should be given to someone to engage them to read and find Works of Francis Bacon and share the excerpts from them. But this method should be adopted only in case of simple sort of books because synopsis and summary of a book cannot give you the real and comprehensive content hidden behind that book. Moreover, every man is not satisfied with only the abstract/synopsis or summary of a book that he NOTES intends to study. The essayist further depicts the qualities of a reader. A good reader grows through reading. His personality gets enhanced by reading. A man becomes quick- witted in their conversation. If a man is habitual about taking notes on whatever he reads, he becomes precise and sharp in his thinking and his conversation. Different books affects people in different ways. A man becomes wise by reading history books. Poetry makes a man imaginative. He gets imaginary wings with the flight of poetry. Mathematics brings subtlety to a man and philosophy makes him delve deeper into the things and penetrate truth. Rhetoric and logic develop his debating powers. Mental defects can also be remedied by appropriate studies just like the healing of physical defects, which take place due to physical exercises. If a man’s mind is not so focussed and gets distracted easily, he should study mathematics. If a man is unable to distinguish things, he should study the writings of the philosophers of the middle ages. If a man is unable to examine a subject carefully from point to point, he should study lawyer’s case. Thus, different kinds of studies provide different levels of remedies to different problems. Bacon concludes his essay in the following way: ‘If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call upon one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyer’s cases. So every defect of the mind may have a special receipt.’ 2.4.2 Critical Analysis The essay, ‘Of Studies’, is one of the first among the series of essays published by Bacon in 1597. In 1612, it was again published with some alterations. This essay is especially popular even today because of its wisdom and relevant content. It is, in fact, considered as his masterpiece with its highly stylized Latin vocabulary, fresh new ideas and logical reasoning. According to Bacon, ‘reading makes a full man, conversation a ready man, and writing an exact man’. In the essay, Bacon adopting a didactic approach, stresses upon the benefits of studying. The word ‘serve’ in the first line itself makes studies a tool for the service of humankind. Bacon had categorized the benefits of studies into three parts. According to Bacon, studies are a source of delight and pleasure, they provide an ornamental significance to a man’s life and last but not least, they help to improve one’s ability. Bacon think that only well-read men can execute plans effectively and can live a healthy life. In his attempt to emphasize the benefits of studies, Bacon has taken a logical approach by depicting the pros and cons of excessive studies. He highlights three cons of studying as well or rather its incorrect use as he says that to ‘spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar’. He emphasizes Self - Learning Material 65 Works of Francis Bacon that excess of anything is bad for a human being. With this, Bacon’s practical personality is manifested. He pointed out that if done in excess, studies can make people lazy. Reading, just for the purpose of showing off one’s knowledge, is also futile NOTES according to Bacon. He is against anyone developing an intellectual conceit and pretentious behaviour. Bacon also points out another problem of studying that is, ‘to make judgment wholly by their rules’. Here, he is rejecting the views of a lot of philosophers who considered reason to be supreme. Philosophers like Plato have stressed upon this very idea in his Phaedrus (370 BC), where he declared reason to be supreme. Bacon is against such subjugation to reason. Relying completely on abstract principles will make life suffocating. For him, studies go hand in hand with practical knowledge. Without practical knowledge, these studies are useless to a man. Bacon also refers to ‘expert men’ who are not scholars, but rather they are people with practical knowledge instead of bookish knowledge. By juxtaposing practical knowledge with theoretical one, he emphasized the significance of experiences. For Bacon, knowledge is only wholesome when it constitutes theoretical and practical elements. This idea is reiterated by Ralph Waldo Emerson who had said that: ‘An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.’ According to Bacon, clever men often ‘contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them’. These crafty or practical men consider studies to be beneath them. They tend to lack the necessary foresight to realize the value of studies. In the latter parts of essay, Bacon advises on how to study what kind of books. He states that only few books deserves our undivided attention and scrutiny, rest can be perused. Moreover, he says that history makes ‘men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtile; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend’. And thus, he quite logically and successfully brought out the benefits of studies. No surprise that his essay is still popular today. Check Your Progress 5. Why is practical knowledge necessary with the knowledge obtained from books? 6. According to Bacon, who can enjoy studies in the best way? 7. When was the essay ‘Of Studies’ published? 8. How does Bacon open the essay, ‘Of Studies’? 2.5 ‘OF TRAVEL’ TRAVEL, in the younger sort, is a part of education, in the elder, a part of experience. He that travelleth into a country, before he hath some entrance into the language, goeth to school, and not to travel. That young men travel under some tutor, or grave servant, I allow well; so that he be such a one that hath the language, and hath been in the country before; whereby he may be able to tell them what things Self - Learning are worthy to be seen, in the country where they go; what 66 Material