1. Francis Bacon : Of Studies 1-9 2. Joseph Addison : A Dream Of Painters 10-18 3. Oliver Goldsmith : The Man in Black 19-30 4. Charles Lamb : Dream Children 31-41 5. Robert Lynd : The Pleasures of Ignorance 42-51 6. A.G. Gardiner : A Fellow Traveller 52-59 7. Aldous Huxley : Selected Snobberies 60-73 8. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam : Patriotism Beyond Politics and Religion X 74-88 » ' Syllabus The Essay to be studied are : Of Studies by Francis Bacon A Dream of Painters by Joseph Addison The Man Black by Oliver Goldsmith Dream Children by Charlies Lamb Pleasures of Ignorance by Robert Lynd A Fellow Traveller by A.b. Gardiner Selected Snobberies by Aldous Huxley Patriotism beyond Politics and Religion by Dr. A.P. J. Abdul Kalam \ \ •.V J UNIT- ' Fmnci^ BaconOf Studies 1 FRANCIS BACON : OF STUDIES I i4liSf!l^€i-';?if1S'sTRucTURE■c%- v • Life and Works of Francis Bacon , • Text: Of Studies • ^Explanations y Glossary '• Long Answer Type Questions • Short Answer Type Questions • Very Short Answer Type Questions 0 Test Yourself ' LEARNING OBJECTIVES , After going through '.his unit you will learn about: • Francis Bacon : His Life and His Works • Of Studies : An essay written by Francis Bacon « Explanation and Summary Of Studies • 1.1. FRANCIS BACON'S LIFE AND WORK Francis Bacon. 1st Viscount of St. Alban, RC (J6nuaty22,1561 - Aprils, 1626) was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist and author. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chanchelior of England. Although his political career ended in disgrace, he remained extremely influential through his works, especially as philosophical advocate and practitioner of the scientific revolution. His works established and popularized deductive methodologies for scientific inquiry, often called the Baconian method or simply, the scientific method. His demand for a planned procedure of investigating all things natural, marked a new turn in the rhetorical and theoretical framework for science, much of which still surrounds conceptions of proper methodology today. Bacon was knighted in 1603, created Baron Verularn in 1618, and Viscount St Alban in 1621; as he died without heirs, both peerages became extinct upon his death. Parliamentarian Bacon’s threefold goals were to uncover truth, to serve his country, and to serve his church. Seeking a prestigious post would aid him towards these ends. In 1580, through his uncle. Lord Burghley, he applied for a post at court, which might enable him to pursue a life of learning. His application was rejected. For two years he worked quietly at Gray’s Inn, until admitted as an outer barrister in 1582. In, 1584, he took his,-seat in parliament for Melcombe in Dorset, and. subsequently for Taunton (1586). At this time, he began to write on the condition of' parties in the church, as well as philosophical reform in the lost tract, Temporis Partus Maxiihus. Yet, he failed to gain a position he thought would lead him to success. He showed signs of sympathy to Puritanism, attending the sermons of the Puritan chaplain of Gray’sjlnn and accompanying his moth3r tc the Temple Chapel ^ to hear Walter Travers. This led to the publication of his earliest surviving tract. Self-lnstnictionol Material 1 Selection in English Prose which criticised the English church’s suppression of the Puritan clergy. In the Parliament of 1586, openly, he urged execution for Mary. Queen of Scots. i: id About this time, he again approached his powerful uncle for help, the result of which may be traced in his rapid progress at the bar. He became Bencher in 1586, and he was elected a reader in 1587, delivering his first set of lectures in Lent the following year. In 1589, he received the valuable appointment of reversion to the Clerkship ofthe Star Chamber, although he did not formally take office until 1608 - a post which was worth £16,000 per annum. Attorney General Bacon soon became acquainted with Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, Queen Elizabeth’s favourite. By 1591, he acted as the earl’s confidential adviser. In 1592; he was commissioned to write a tract response to the Jesuit Robert Parson’s anti-government polemic, which he entitled “Certain Observations Made Upon a Libel Identifying England with the Ideals of Republican Athens against the Belligerence of Spain. Bacon took his third parliamentary seat for Middlesex when in February 1593 Elizabeth summoned Parliament to investigate a Roman Catholic plot against her. Bacon’s opposition to a bill that would levy triple subsidies in half the usual time offended many people. Opponents accused him of seeking popularity. For a time, the royal court excluded him. When the Attorney-Generalship fell vacant in 1594, Lord Essex’s influence was not enough to secure Bacon’s candidacy into the office. Likewise, Bacon failed to secure the lesser office of Solicitor-General in 1595. To console him for these disappointments, Essex presented him with a property at Twickenham, which he sold subsequently for £1,800. In 1596, Bacon became Queen’s Counsel, but missed the appointment of Master of the Rolls. During the next few years, his financial situation remained bad. His friends could find no public office for him, and a scheme for retrieving his position by a marriage with the wealthy and young widow Lady Elizabeth Hatton failed after she broke off their relationship upon accepting marriage to a wealthier • man. In 1598 Bacon was arrested because of his debts. Afterwards however, his standing in the queen’s eyes improved. Gradually, Bacon earned the standing of one of the learned counsels, though he had no commission or warrant and received no salary. His relationship with the queen further improved when he severed ties with Essex, a shrewd move because Essex was executed for treason in 1601. With others. Bacon was appointed to investigate the charges against Essex, his former fi-iend and benefactor. A number of Essex's followers confessed that Essex had planned a rebellion against the queen. Bacon was subsequently a part of the legal team headed by Attorney General Sir Edward Coke at Essex’s treason trial. After the execution, the queen ordered Bacon to write the official government account of the trial, which was later published as A Declaration of the Practices and Treasons, etc., of... the Earl of Essex after Bacon’s first draft was heavily edited by the queen and her ministers. He received a gift of a fine of£1200 on one of Essex's accomplices. Philosophy and works : Bacon did not propose an actual philosophy, but rather a method of developing philosophy. He argued that although philosophy at the time used the deductive syllogism to interpret nature, the philosopher should instead proceed through inductive reasoning from fact to axiom to law. Before beginning this induction, the inquirer is to fi'ee his or her mind from certain false notions or tendencies which distort the truth. These are called “Idols" (idola), and are of four kinds ; 2 Selj-hisiruciiona! Materia! “Idols of the Tribe” {idola tribus) which are common to the race; Francis Bacon: Of Studies “Idols of the Den” (idola speciis) which are peculiar to the individual;------- “Idols of the Marketplace” (idola fori), coming from the misuse of language; and “Idols of the Theatre” (idola theatri), which result from an abuse of authority. The end of induction is the discovery of forms, the ways in.which natural phenomena occur, the causes from which they proceed. • 1.2.TEXT: 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 pruning, by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. 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. 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 writes little, he had need have a great memory; if he confers little, he had need have a present wit: and if he reads little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know that he doth not. Histories make men wise; poets witty: the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt stadia in mores [Studies pass into and influence manners].