*Francis Bacon

http://www.biography.com/people/francis-bacon-9194632

22 Jan. 1561 – 9 Apr. 1626

English essayist

16th/17th Centuries

*His life

Served several different roles throughout life English embassy in Paris – secretary,

copyist, intelligencer Picked up deciphering and decoding

Law career Advisor/Protégé

Earl of Essex was his patron. Advised Queen Elizabeth, King James

Science philosopher

Key Contemporaries William Shakespeare Queen Elizabeth John Donne Ben Johnson

*His style

• Essays and legal documents• Tracts• Novels

Genres

• Works in Latin• Rational argumentation• One English exception

Style

• Inductive reasoning• Arguments and principles• Strong support with examples

Stylistic Fame

*His writing – Common Topics

• Essays attempted “to make wonders plain”• Matched the laws of men with the laws of

nature• Practical concerns

• Legal and political topics• Religious and

moral/conduct• Philosophy and science

• Lots of advising to royalty• The Advancement of Learning – educational

reform• Essays – Conduct of public officials

TOPICS

IMPACT

THEMES

“On Studies”

*Well-reasoned argument

*Educational issue

*Studies should be pursued for the noble purpose of gaining knowledge.

*Studies and knowledge shape and enhance a person’s life.

*Implies a connection between intelligence and conduct.

“On Revenge”

*Well-reasoned argument

*Moral issue

*Explains that revenge really only hurts the person desiring it, not the person targeted.

*Our public conduct and behavior are a reflection of our internal motives and desires.

*His impact

• Anticipated modern science

• Induction over deduction (empiricism) – inquiry model

• Ideal of “good science” - search for truth

• Connection between science and life

*Sources

Davies, Rosalind. “Francis Bacon (22 January 1561-9 April 1626).”

British Philosophers, 1500-1799. Ed. Philip Breed Dematteis and

Peter S. Fosl. Dictionary of Literary Biography. 252 (2002):

11-36. Web. 7 February 2013.