Bacon_0414 10/10/2005 12:26 PM THE ONLINE LIBRARY OF LIBERTY © Liberty Fund, Inc. 2005 http://oll.libertyfund.org/Home3/index.php FRANCIS, LORD BACON, THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING (1605) URL of this E-Book: http://oll.libertyfund.org/EBooks/Bacon_0414.pdf URL of original HTML file: http://oll.libertyfund.org/Home3/HTML.php?recordID=0414 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bacon was trained as a lawyer but made a name for himself as one of the clearest exponents of the scientific method at the dawn of the scientific revolution in the 16th and early 17th centuries. He argued that knowledge about the natural world could be best acquired through direct observation, experiment, and the testing of an hypothesis. ABOUT THE BOOK The first of Bacon’s writings on the nature of science and the scientific method. He also had a view of the unity of knowledge, both scientific and non-scientific. THE EDITION USED The Advancement of Learning, by Lord Bacon; edited by Joseph Devey, M.A. (New York: P.F. Collier and Son, 1901). COPYRIGHT INFORMATION The text of this edition is in the public domain. FAIR USE STATEMENT This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit. http://oll.libertyfund.org/Home3/EBook.php?recordID=0414#c_lf0414_footnote_nt521 Page 1 of 330 Bacon_0414 10/10/2005 12:26 PM _______________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS FRANCIS BACON PREFACE FRANCIS OF VERULAM’S GREAT INSTAURATION ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE AUTHOR AUTHOR’S PREFACE Endnotes DISTRIBUTION OF THE WORK IN SIX PARTS Endnotes FIRST PART OF THE GREAT INSTAURATION DIGNITY AND ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING IN NINE BOOKS ON THE DIGNITY AND ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING FIRST BOOK SECOND BOOK CHAPTER I CHAPTER II CHAPTER III CHAPTER IV CHAPTER V CHAPTER VI CHAPTER VII CHAPTER VIII CHAPTER IX CHAPTER X CHAPTER XI CHAPTER XII CHAPTER XIII PAN, OR NATURE Explained of Natural Philosophy PERSEUS OR WAR Explained of the Preparation and Conduct necessary to War DIONYSUS, OR BACCHUS Explained of the Passions THIRD BOOK CHAPTER I http://oll.libertyfund.org/Home3/EBook.php?recordID=0414#c_lf0414_footnote_nt521 Page 2 of 330 Bacon_0414 10/10/2005 12:26 PM CHAPTER II CHAPTER III CHAPTER IV CHAPTER V CHAPTER VI FOURTH BOOK CHAPTER I CHAPTER II CHAPTER III FIFTH BOOK CHAPTER I CHAPTER II CHAPTER III CHAPTER IV CHAPTER V SIXTH BOOK CHAPTER I CHAPTER II CHAPTER III SO P HISM I.— What men praise and celebrate, is good; what they dispraise and censure, evil II.— What is commended, even by an enemy, is a great good; but what is censured, even by a friend, a great evil III.— To be deprived of a good, is an evil; and to be deprived of an evil, a good IV.— What approaches to good, is good; and what recedes from good, is evil V.— As all parties challenge the first place, that to which the rest unanimously give the second seems the best; each taking the first place out of affection to itself, but giving the second where it is really due VI.— That is absolutely best the excellence whereof is greatest VII.— What keeps a matter safe and entire, is good; but what leaves no retreat, is bad: for inability to retire is a kind of impotence, but power is a good VIII.— That evil we bring upon ourselves, is greater; and that proceeding from without us, less IX.— The degree of privation seems greater than that of diminution, and the degree of inception greater than that of increase X.— What relates to truth is greater than what relates to opinion; but the measure and trial of what relates to opinion http://oll.libertyfund.org/Home3/EBook.php?recordID=0414#c_lf0414_footnote_nt521 Page 3 of 330 Bacon_0414 10/10/2005 12:26 PM opinion; but the measure and trial of what relates to opinion is what a man would not do if he thought he were secret XI.— What is procured by our own virtue and industry is a greater good; and what by another’s, or by the gift of fortune, a less XII.— What consists of many divisible parts is greater, and more one than what consists of fewer; for all things when viewed in their parts seem greater, whence also a plurality of parts shows bulky; but a plurality of parts has the stronger effect, if they lie in no certain order, for thus they resemble infinity and prevent comprehension EXAMPLES OF LESSER FORMS A CONCLUSION IN THE DELIBERATIVE COROLLARY OF AN EXACT DIVISION A TRANSITION, WITH A CAVEAT A PREPOSSESSION AGAINST AN INVETERATE OPINION CHAPTER IV SEVENTH BOOK CHAPTER I CHAPTER II CHAPTER III EIGHTH BOOK CHAPTER I CHAPTER II A SPECIMEN OF THE DOCTRINE OF VARIOUS OCCASIONS IN THE COMMON BUSINESS OF LIFE, BY WAY OF APHORISM AND EXPLANATION AP HO RISM I.— A soft answer appeases anger II.— A prudent servant shall rule over a foolish son, and divide the inheritance among the brethren III.— If a wise man contends with a fool, whether he be in anger or in jest, there is no quiet IV.— Listen not to all that is spoken, lest thou shouldst hear thy servant curse thee V.— Poverty comes as a traveller, but want as an armed man VI.— He who instructs a scoffer, procures to himself reproach; and he who reproves a wicked man, procures to himself a stain VII.— A wise son rejoices his father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother http://oll.libertyfund.org/Home3/EBook.php?recordID=0414#c_lf0414_footnote_nt521 Page 4 of 330 Bacon_0414 10/10/2005 12:26 PM foolish son is a sorrow to his mother VIII.— The memory of the just is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot IX.— He who troubles his own house, shall inherit the wind X.— The end of a discourse is better than the beginnng XI.— As dead flies cause the best ointment to yield an ill odor, so does a little folly to a man in reputation for wisdom and honor XII.— Scornful men insnare a city, but wise men prevent calamity XIII.— The prince who willingly hearkens to lies, has all his servants wicked XIV.— A just man is merciful to the life of his beast, but the mercies of the wicked are cruel XV.— A fool speaks all his mind, but a wise man reserves something for hereafter XVI.— If the displeasure of great men rise up against thee, forsake not thy place; for pliant behavior extenuates great offences XVII.— The first in his own cause is just; then comes the other party, and inquires into him XVIII.— He who brings up his servant delicately, shall find him stubborn in the end XIX.— A man diligent in his business shall stand before kings, and not be ranked among the vulgar XX.— I saw all the living which walk under the sun, with the succeeding young prince that shall rise up in his stead XXI.— There was a little city manned but by a few, and a mighty king drew his army to it, erecting bulwarks against it, and intrenched it round: now there was found within the walls a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; but none remembered the same poor man XXII.— The way of the slothful is a hedge of thorns XXIII.— He who respects persons in judgment does ill, and will forsake the truth for a piece of bread http://oll.libertyfund.org/Home3/EBook.php?recordID=0414#c_lf0414_footnote_nt521 Page 5 of 330 Bacon_0414 10/10/2005 12:26 PM XXIV.— A poor man, that by extortion oppresses the poor, is like a land-flood that causes famine XXV.— A just man falling before the wicked, is a troubled fountain and a corrupted spring XXVI.— Contract no friendship with an angry man, nor walk with a furious one XXVII.— He who conceals a fault seeks friendship, but he who repeats a matter separates friends XXVIII.— In every good work is plenty; but where words abound, there is commonly a want XXIX.— Open reproof is better than secret affection XXX.— A prudent man looks well to his steps, but a fool turns aside to deceit XXXI.— Be not over-righteous, nor make thyself over-wise: for why shouldst thou suddenly be taken off! XXXII.— Give occasion to a wise man, and his wisdom will be increased XXXIII.— To praise one’s friend aloud, rising early, has the same effect as cursing him XXXIV.— As the face shines in water, so are men’s hearts manifest to the wise CHAPTER III THE MILITARY STATESMAN OR A SPECIMEN OF THE DOCTRINE OF ENLARGING THE BOUNDS OF EMPIRE A SPECIMEN OF THE METHOD OF TREATING UNIVERSAL JUSTICE, OR THE FOUNTAINS OF EQUITY Introduction TITLE I Of that primary dignity of the law, certainty Cases omitted in law Application and extension of laws Precedents and the use of forms Prætorian and censorian courts Retrospect and relation of laws Obscurity of laws Excessive accumulation of laws http://oll.libertyfund.org/Home3/EBook.php?recordID=0414#c_lf0414_footnote_nt521 Page 6 of 330 Bacon_0414 10/10/2005 12:26 PM New digests of laws Obscure and involved exposition of laws Different methods of expounding laws and solving doubts Reports of judgments Authentic writers Auxiliary writings Answers and consultations Prelections Instability of judgments NINTH BOOK THE COAST OF THE NEW INTELLECTUAL WORLD OR A RECAPITULATION OF THE DEFICIENCIES OF KNOWLEDGE, POINTED OUT IN THE PRECEDING WORK, TO BE SUPPLIED BY POSTERITY Endnotes _______________________________________________________ FRANCIS, LORD BACON, THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING (1605) FRANCIS BACON FRA N C IS BA C O N , one of the greatest names in English history, was born in London, January 22, 1561.