Francis Bacon (or Lord Verulam, 1561-1626) was a philosopher and author. Bacon is best known for his work within natural philosophy and within the Scientific Revolution.
Life[]
Bacon was born in 1561 to Sir Nicholas Bacon and his second wife (Lady Ann Bacon). On birth, he had four half-brothers (the sons of Sir Nicholas' first wife). His childhood was plagued with ill health and came about in era of scientific and exploratory prosperity (with the first modern atlas being published when Bacon was nine years old.)
When Bacon was twelve, he entered into Trinity College at Cambridge but left three years later. While in Trinity College, he met Queen Elizabeth. His studies were conducted in the (then-common) Medieval method - leading him to become dissastified with this method of reasoning.
In 1576, Bacon entered into Gray's Inn (one of four "Inns" which barristers need to enter into to practice law in the United Kingdom). In the same year, Bacon accompanied the English ambassador to France - Amias Paulet - into France (and Italy and Spain). This time abroad lasted for three years and ended after the death of Francis' father.
For two years, Bacon (with the help of his uncle William Cecil, Lord Burghley) sought a prestigious job within the English legal system. In 1581, Bacon was made an MP and in 1582 he was appointed an outer barrister. Throughout the 1580s, Bacon shifted around various Parliamentary seats. Throughout the late 1580s (with the help of the Lord Burghley), Bacon rapidly climbed the legal system's ladder (joining the Star Chamber in 1589).
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Writing style and viewpoints[]
Within his essays, Bacon largely sets forth a viewpoint of moderation, empiricism, and reasonable skepticism. He frequently references historical and religious figures (such as Julius Caesar, Tacitus, and King Solomon) and directly quotes Latin texts.
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Written works[]
- Essayes - a collection of essays on diverse subjects
- The Advancement and Proficience of Learning Divine and Human - an inspiration for Dideriot and d'Alembert's Encyclopédie
- Novum Organum - a philosophical work
- History of the Reign of King Henry VII - a biography of Henry VII
- New Atlantis - an unfinished Utopian work
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Quotes[]
- For wisdom of behavior, it is by learned men for the most part despised, as an inferior to virtue and an enemy to meditation. (from The Advancement and Proficience of Learning Divine and Human [?])
Written works on Bacon[]
Nonfiction[]
- Francis Bacon and the Transformation of Early-Modern Philosophy by Stephen Gaukroger
- A History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell
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Fiction[]
- Francis Bacon Mysteries series by Anna Castle
- The Chase by John Peel
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See also[]
- William Shakespeare
- Christopher "Kit" Marlowe
- Queen Elizabeth I
- King James I
- Niccolo Machiavelli
- Leo Strauss
- Socrates
Sources[]
TBA