SIRFRANCISBACON

_:_:_ A LIBRARY OFUNIVERSAL LITERATURE

IN .FOUR .PARTS

ComprisingScience,Biography,Fictionand the GreatOrations

.PART ONE--SCIEIVCE

Advancementof LearningBY

LORD BACON.:2

EditedbyJOSEPHDEVEY,M.A.

P. ;ON

2I

INDIA _TUN!V-,T,;.i:.]TY

INDIANAPOLIS

PRESSOFP.F.COLLIER& SON

ALL RIGHTSRESERVED

A LIBRARYOFUNIVERSALLITERATURE

SCIENCEVOLUMETWENTY-ONE

tUPU!1JNIVERSUYLI_,ARtE8755W.f_".dCHiCANST.

INDIANAPOLIS,IN46202-519_

BOARDOFEDITORS

SCIENCEANGKLOHKILPRIN,authorof "TheEarthandIts Stoey,"ew..;

CuraUxAcademyof NaturalSciencesof Philadelphia.JOS]_PHTORREY,JR._Ph.D.,Instructorin Ch_mLtt_y/n

Univendty.,AYSTANNAR_)BAKER,A.B., authorof "The NewPslsperity,"

etc.;.'_sociateEditorof McClure'sMagazine.

BIOGRAPHYMAYOW.HAZELTINE,A.M.,authorof=ChatsAboutBoo]m,"eto,!

LiteraryEditorof theNewYorkSun.JULIANHAWTHORNE,authoa"of "Nath_,t_!Ha_ andHIs

Wife,""Historyof theUnitedS_," etc.CHARLKSG. D. ROBERTSIA.B., A.M.,authorof "A Histoa'yot

Canada";late Professorof EnglishandFrenchLit_ature,K/ng'gconqe.

FICTIONRICHARDHENRYSTODDARD,authorof"The King'sBell,"etr.t

LiteraryEditorof the NewYorkMailandExpress.HH_IRYVANDYKE,D.D.,LL.D.,authorof "LittleRivers,"etc.;

ProfessorofEnglishLiteratureatPrincetonUniversity.THOMASNELSONPAGE,LL.D.,Litt.D.,au_thm:of"RedRock,netc.

ORATIONSliON.HINRYCABOTLODGE,A.B.,LL.B.,authorof"LifeofDaniel

Wetlw," etc.;U.S. SenatorfromMasmchusetm.HON.IOHNR. PROCTOR,Pres/dentU.S.CivilServiceCcmmnk_on.MORRISHICKEVMORGAN,Ph.D.,LI..D,,Professorin Lstln,Hat-

wadUnivem_y.

FRANCISBACONFRANCISBACON,one of the greatestnames in English

history, was born in London, January22, 1561. He wasthe youngest son of Sir Nicholas Bacon,who for twentyyears had held the seals as LordKeeper. His motherwasa daughterof Sir AnthonyCooke,and one of her sisterswas married to the famous Lord Treasurer,Burghley,ancestorof the presentMarquisof Salisbury. In 1578heenteredTrinityCollege,Cambridge_andresided therethreeyears, a_berwhichhe travelled for the same length of timeupontheContinent. On the death of his fatherin 1579hereturned to England and began his life in comparativepoverty. In 1582 he was admitted to the bar, and twoyears later secureda seat in Parliament. Hisadvancementwas slow, but he ultimatelybecame King's Counsel,andin 1607 was made Solicitor-General. Six years later hebecameAttorney-Generaland in 161'7obtained the GreatSeal with the title of LordKeeper. In the followingyearh_ r_._v_l the higher titl_ of Lord (_han_lor, anal wa_made BaronVerulam;in 1621 he was createdViscountSt.Albans. It is well known that in the last-namedyear, hewas tried for bribery and corruption, and was sentencedto fine and imprisonment. We are not here directly con-cerned with Bacon's career as a lawyer,politician, courtierand man of letters, and consequently pass at once to hisplace in science and philosophy. Of his many scientific

__ (5)

6 PRANOI_BACON

and philosophicaltreatisesitisgenerallyconcededthat"The"AdvancementofLearning"and the"!_ovumOr-ganum"arethemostvaluable,andwe have,accordingly,selectedthemforreproduction.ThereisnodoubtthatBacon,thefirstgreatteacheroftheinductivemethodinmoderntimes,shareswithDescartesthehonorofinau-guratingmodernphilosophy.ThispositionBaconowesnotonlytothegeneralspiritofhisphilosophybuttothe manner in which he worked into a connected systemthe new mode of thinking, and to the incomparablepowerand eloquence with which he expounded and enforced it.Like all epoch.makingworks, the "Novum Organum" gaveexpression to ideas which were already beginning to be inthe air. The time was ripe for a great change. Scholasti-cism, long decaying, had begun to fall; while here andthere a few devoted experimenters were turning with freshzeal to the unwithered faceof nature. The fruitful thoughtswhich lay under and gave rise to these scattered effortsofthe human mind, were gathered up into unity and reducedto system in the new philosophyof Bacon. A long line ofthinkers have drawn inspiration from him, and it is notwithout justice that he has been looked upon as the origi-nator and guiding spirit of that empirical school whichnumbersamongits adherentssuch namesas Hobbes,Locke,Hume,ttartley, Mill, Condillacandthe Encyclopedists.

PREFACE

LORDBACONcan onlybe said to have carriedthe firstthreepartsof his _'InstauratioMagna" to any degreeofperfection. Of these the "Sylva Sylvarum" is but a drycatalogue of naturalphenomena, the collection of which,however necessaryit might be_Bacon viewed as a sort ofmechanicallabor, and would never have stooped to thetask, had not the field been abandonedby the generalityof philosophers,as unworthyof them. The twootherpor-tionsof the "Instauratio_[agna,"whichthesevolumescon-tain, unfold the design of his philosophy,and exhibit allthepeculiaritiesof hisextraordinarymind,enshrinedin thefinestpassagesof his writings.

Of the _'De Augmentis," though one of the greatestbooks of modern times, only three translationshave ap-peared, and each of these strikingly imperfect. That ofWars, issued while Bacon was living, is singularly dis-figuredwith solecisms,and called forth the just censuresof Baconand his friends. The versionof EustaceCaryisno less unfortunate,owing to its poverty oEdiction, andantiquatedphraseology. Under the publicsense of thesefailures,anothertranslationwas producedaboutsixty yearsago by Dr. Shaw, which might have meritedapprobation,J

8 PREFACE

hadnotthelearnedphysicianbeenimpressedwiththeideatKathecouldimproveBaconbyrelievinghisworkofsomeofits choicestpassages,and entirelyalteringthe arrange-ment. In thepresentversion,ourtask hasbeenprincipallyto rectifyShaw'smistakes,by restoringthe author'sown"arrangemen%and supplyingtheomittedportions. SuchofShaw'snotesasweredeemedof valuehave beenretained,andothersaddedwherethe textseemedto requireillustra-tion. Duecarealsohas beentakentopointoutthesources

. QwhenceBacon drewhis extraordinarystores of learning,by furnishingauthoritiesfor the quotationsand allusionsin the text,so that the readermayview at a glancetheprincipalauthorswhomBaconlovedto consult,andwhoseagencycontributedto theformationof his colossalpowers.

The versionof the "Novum Organum"containedinthisset is that by Wood,which is the best extant. Thepresenteditionof this immortalwork has been enrichedwith an amplecommentary,in whichthe remarksof thetwo Playfairs,Sir John Herschel,and the GermanandFrencheditors,havebeen diligentlyconsulted,that noth-ing maybe wantingto renderit as perfectas possible.

J.D.

FRANCIS OF VERULAM'S

GREAT INSTAURATION

ANNOUNCEMENTOF THE AUTHORFRANCISOFVERULAMTHOUGHTTHUS,ANDSUCHIS THEMETHODWHICH

HI;DETERMINEDWITHINHIMSELF,ANDWHICHHETHOUGHTITCONCERNF.DTHELIVINGANDPOSTERITYTO KNOW

BEINGconvinced, by a carefulobservation,that thehumanunderstandingperplexesitself, ormakesnot a soberand advantageoususe of the real helps within its reach,whence manifold ignoranceand inconveniencesarise, hewas determinedto employ his utmost endeavorstowardrestoringor cultivating a just and legitimate familiaritybetweenthe mind and things.

But as the mind, hastily and without choice, imbibesand treasuresup the first notices of things, fromwhenceall therest proceed,errorsmustforeverprevail,and remainuncorrected,eitherby thenaturalpowersof the understand-ing orthe assistanceof logic; for theoriginalnotions beingvitiated, confused,and inconsideratelytaken from things,and the secondaryones formed no less rashly, humanknowledgeitself, the thing employedin all our researches,is not well put togethernor justly formed,but resemblesamagnificentstructurethat has no foundation.

._ And while men agree to admireand magnifythe falsepowers of the mind, and neglect or destroy those thatmight be renderedtruer there is no other course left but(9)

10 T_E GIIEATINSTAUP_ATIOlV

with better assistanceto begin the workanew,andraiseorrebuildthe sciences,arts, and all humanknowledgefroma firm and solid basis.

This may at first seem an infinite scheme, unequal tohumanabilities,yet it will be found moresoundand judi.eious than the coursehithertopursued,as tendingto someissue; whereasall hithertodonewith regardto the sciencesis vertiginous,or in the way of perpetualrotation.

Noris he ignorantthat he standsalonein an experimentalmost too bold and astonishing to obtain credit, yet hethought it not right to deserteither the causeor himself,but to boldly enteron the way and explore the only pathwhich is perviousto the humanmind. For it is wiser toengagein an undertakingthat admitsof some termination,thanto involve one's self in perpetualexertionandanxietyabout what is interminable. The ways of contemplation,indeed, nearly correspondto two roads in nature, one ofwhich,steep and ruggedat the commencement,terminatesin a plain; the other,at firstview smoothand easy, leadsonly to huge rocks and precipices. Uncertain, however,whether these reflectionswould occur to another,and ob-servingthat he had nevermet anypersondisposedto applyhis mind to similar thoughts, he determinedto publishwhatsoeverhe found time to perfect. Nor is this the hasteof ambition,but anxiety,that if he shonlddie there mightremainbehind him some outline and determinationof thematterhis mind had embraced,as wellas somemark of hissincereand earnestaffection to promote the_happinessofmankind.

AUTHOR'S PREFACE

Of the state of learningmThatit is neitherprosperousnorgreatlyadvanced,andthata way mustbe openedto the humanunderstandingentirelydistinctfrom that knownto ourpredecessors,and differentaids procured,that themindmayexerciseherpowerever the natureof things

IT APPEARSto me that men knowneithertheiracquire-ments nor their powers,but fancytheir possessionsgreaterandtheirfacultiesless thantheyare; whence,eithervaluingthe received artsabove measure,they look out no further;or else despising themselves too much,they exercise theirtalents upon lighter matters,withoutattemptingthecapitalthings of all. And hencethe sciences seem to have theirHercules' Pillars, which bound the desires and hopes ofmankind.

But asafalse imaginationofplentyis amongtheprincipalcausesof want,andastoo greata confidencein things pres-ent leadsto a neglectof the future,it is necessarywe shouldhere admonishmankindthat they do not too highly valueor extol eitherthenumberor usefulnessof thethings hith-erto discovered;forDby closely inspectingthe multiplicityof books upon arts and sciences,we find them to containnumberlessrepetitionsof the same things in point of in-vention, but differing indeed as to the mannerof treat-ment; so that the real discoveries,though at the firstviewthey may appearnumerous_prove upon examinationbutfew. And as to the point of usefulness,the philosophy

we principallyreceivedfrom the Greeksmust be acknowl-edged puerile,or rathertalkativethan generative--asbeingfruitful in controversies,but barrenof effects.

The fable of Scylla seems a civil representationof thepresentconditionof knowledge;for shee_hlbitedthe coun-(11)

19. THE GREAT INSTAUP_ATIOIV

tenanceandexpressionof a virgin, while barking monstersencircled her womb. Even thus the sciences have theirspecious and plausible generalities;but when we descendto particulars,which, ]ike the organsof generation,shouldproduce fruits and effects,then spring uploud altercationmandcontroversies,whichterminatein barrensterility. Andhadthis not beena lifelesskindof philosophy,it werescarcepossible it should have made solittle progressin somanyages, insomuch,that not only positions now frequentlyre-main positions still, but questionsremainquestions,ratherrivetedand cherishedthandeterminedby disputes; philos-ophy thus coming downto us in the personsof masterandscholar,insteadof inventorandimprover. In themechanicarts the case is otherwise--thesecommonlyadvancing to-wardperfectionin a courseof daily improvement,from arough unpolished state, sometimesprejudicial to the firstinventors, while philosophyand the intellectual sciencesare, like statues, celebratedand adored, but never ad-vanced; nay, they sometimesappear most perfect in theoriginalauthor,and afterwarddegenerate. For since menhave gone over in crowds to the opinionof their leader,like those silent senatorsof Rome,' they add nothing tothe extent of learningthemselves,but performthe servileduty of waiting upon particularauthors, and repeatingtheir doctrines.

It is a fatalmistake to suppose that the scienceshavegradually arrivedat a state of perfection, and then beenzecordedby some one writeror other;and that as nothingbetter can afterwardbe invented,men need but cultivateand set offwhat is thus discoveredand completed;where--as, in reality,this registeringof the sciences proceedsonly-from the assuranceof a few and the sloth and ignoranceof many. ]?orafter the sciences might thus perhaps inseveral parts be carefullycultivated; a man of an enter-prising genius rising up, who, by the concisenessof his

i Pedariisenato,_s.

AUTHOR'8PREFACE 18

method, rendershimself acceptableand famous,he in ap-pearanceerects an art, but in realitycorruptsthe laborsofhis predecessors. This, however, is usually well receivedby posterity,as readily gratifyingtheir curiosity,and in-dulging their indolence. But he that rests upon estab-lished consentas the judgment approvedby time,truststoa very fallaciousandweak foundation;for we have but animperfectknowledgeof thediscoveriesin artsandsciences,made public in differentages and countries,andstill less ofwhathas beendone by particularpersons,and transactedinprivate; so that neitherthe births nor miscarriagesof timeare to be found in our records.

Nor is consent,or the continuancethereof,a thing ofany account,for howevergovernmentsmay vary, there isbut one stateof the sciences,andthatwill foreverbedemo-craticalor popular. But the doctrines in greatestvogueamongthe people, are either the contentiousand quarrel-some,or the showyand empty; that is, such as may eitherentrap the assent, or lull the mind to rest; whence, ofcourse, the greatest geniuses in all ages have sufferedviolence; while out of regard to their own charactertheysubmittedto the judgmentof the times,and the populace.And thus whenany moresubfimespeculationshappenedtoappear,_heywerecommonlytossedandextinguishedby thebreathof popular opinion. Hence time, like a river,hasbroughtdownto us whatis light and tumid, butsunkwhatwas ponderousand solid. As to thosewhohaveset up forteachersof thesciences,whentheydrop theircharacters andat intervals speak their sentiments,they complainof thesubtilty of nature,the concealmentof truth,the obscurityof things,the entanglementof causes,and the imperfectionsof the human understanding;thus ratherchoosingto ac-cuse the commonstateof men and things, than makecon-fession of themselves. It is also frequent with them toadjudgethat impossible in an art, which theyfind thatartdoes not affect; by which meansthey screenindolenceand_norance from the reproach they merit. The knowledge

14 THE GREAT ZNSTAURATION

delivered down to us is barren in effects,fruitful in ques-tions, slow and languid in improvement, exhibiting in itsgeneralities the counterfeits of perfection, but meagre inits details, popular in its aim, but suspected by its verypromoters, and therefore defended and propagatedby ar-tifice and chicanery. And even those who by experiencepropose to enlarge the bounds of the sciences,scarce everentirely quit the received opinions,and go to the fountain-head, but think it enough to add somewhatof their own;as prudentially considering, that at the time they showtheir modestyin assenting,they may have a liberty of add-ing. But while this regard is shown to opinionsand moralconsiderations,the sciencesare greatly hurt by such a lan-guid procedure; for it is scarce possible at once to admireand excel an author; as water rises no higher than the res-ervoir it falls from. Such men, therefore, though they im-prove some things, yet advance the sciencesbut little, orrather amend than enlarge them.

There have been also bolder spirits, and greater gen-iuses, who thought themselves at liberty to overturn anddestroy the ancient doctrine, and make way for themselvesand their opinions; but without any great advantage fromthe disturbance; as they did not effectivelyenlarge philos-ophy and arts by practicalworks, but only endeavored tosubstitute newdogmas,and to transfer the empire of opin-ion to themselves,with but small advantage; for oppositeerrors proceed mostly from common causes.

As for those who, neither wedded to their own norothers' opinions, but continuing friends to liberty, madeuse of assistance in their inquiries,the success they met_vith did not answer expectation, the attempt, thoughlaudable, being but feeble; for pursuing only the prob-able reasonsof things,they were carriedabout in a circleof arguments,and taking a promiscuousliberty,preservednot the rigor of true inquirers;while none of them dulyconversedwith experienceand things themselves. Othersagain, who commit themselves to mechanicalexperience,

AUTHOI_'_PREFACE

yetmaketheirexperimentsatrandom,withoutanymethodofinquiry. And thegreatestpartof thesehavenoconsid-erableviews,butesteemit agreatmatterif theycanmakea singlediscovery;whichis botha triflingand unskilfulprocedure,as no one can justlyor successfullydiscoverthenatureof anyone thinginthatthingitself,or withoutnumerousexperimentswhichleadtofurtherinquiries. Andwemustnotomitto observethatall the industrydisplayedin experimenthas beendirectedby tooindiscreeta zealatsomeprejudgedeffect,seekingthosewhichproducedfruitratherthanknowledge,inoppositionto the Divinemethod,whichon the firstdaycreatedtimealone,delayingi_sma-terialcreationsuntilthesunhadilluminedspace.

Lastly,thosewhorecommendlogicasthebestandsurestinstrumentfor improvingthe sciences,veryjustlyobserve,that the understanding,left to itself,oughtalwaysto besuspected. But here the.remedyis neitherequalto thedisease,norapproved;for thoughthe logicin use maybeproperlyapplied in civil affairs,and the arts that arefounded in discourseand opinion,yet it by no meansir_tachesthe subtiltyof nature; and by catchingat what

cannotholct,rather serves to establisherrors and fixthem deeperthan openthewayof truth.'

Uponthewhole,mendonot hithertoappearto be hap-pilyinclinedand fittedfor thesciences,eitherby theirownindustry,or the authorityo2authors,especiallyas thereislittle dependenceto be had uponthe commondemoustra-tiousand experiments;whilethe structureof the universerendersit a labyrinthto the understanding_wherethe pathsare not onlyeverywheredoubtful,but the appearancesofthingsandtheir signsdeceitful;and thewreathsand knotsof natureintricatelyturnedand twisted;'throughallwhich

g l_orexemplificationsof theseopinions,the readermayconsultMorhof's"Polyhistor.,"andthe otherwritersuponpolymathyandliteraryhistery.--_Shaw.

By wrathsandknots,isunderstoodtheapparentcomplicationof causes,andthesuperadditionofpropertiesnotessentialtothings;aslighttoheat,yel.lownesstogold,pelluciditytoglass,e_.--Ib.

16 THE 6_R,.EAT.[N_TAU'I_ATIO.Nwe are only to be conducted by the uncertain light of thesenses that sometimes shines, and sometimeshides its head;and by collections of experiments and particular facts, inwhich no guides can be trusted, as wanting direction them-selves, and adding to the errors of the rest. In this melan-choly state of things, one might be apt to despair both ofthe understanding left to itself, and of all fortuitous helps;as of a state irremediable by the utmost efforts of the hu-man genius, or the often-repeated chance of trial. Theonly clewand method is to begin all anew, and direct oursteps in a certain order, from the very first perceptions ofthe senses. Yet I must notbe understood to say that noth-ing has been done in former ages, for the ancients haveshown themselves worthy of admiration in everythingwhich concerned either wit or abstract reflection; but, asin former ages, when men at sea, directing their coursesolely by the observation of the stars, might coast alongthe shoresof the continent, but could not trust themselvesto the wide ocean, or discover newworlds, until the use ofthe compasswas known; even sothe present discoveriesre-ferring to matters immediatelyunder the jurisdictionof _hesenses, are suchas might easily result from experience anddiscussion; but beforewe can enterthe remoteand hiddenpartsof nature,it is requisitethata betterand moreperfectapplicationof the humanmindshouldbe introduced. This,however,is notto be understoodas if nothing had beenef-fected by the immenselaborsof so manypast ages; as theancients have performedsurprisinglyin subjects that re-quired abstract:meditation,and force of genius. But asnavigation was imperfectbefore the use of the compass,so will many secretsof natureand art remain undiscov-ered, without a more perfect knowledge of the under-standing, its uses, and ways of working.

For our own part, from an earnestdesireof truth,wehavecommittedourselvesto doubtful,difficult,and solitaryways; and,relyingon theDivineassistance,havesupportedour minds againstthe vehemenceof opinions,our ownin-

AUTHOR28PREFACE 17

ternaldoubtsand scruples,and the darknessand fantasticimages of the mind; that at length we might make moresure and certaindiscoveriesfor the benefit of posterity.And if we shall have effectedanythingto the purpose,what led us to it was a true and genuine humiliationofmind. Thosewho beforeus applied themselvesto the dis-coveryof arts, having just glancedupon things, examples,and experiments;immediately,as if inventionwas but akindof contemplation,raisedup theirownspiritsto deliveroracles:whereasourmethod is "continuallyto dwell amongthings soberly, without abstractingor setting the under-standingfurtherfrom them than makes theirimagesmeet;which leavesbut little _vorkfor geniusandmentalabilities.And the same humilitythat we practice in learning, thesame we also observein teaching,without endeavoringtostamp a dignityon anyof our inventions,by the tritunphsof confutation_the citationsof antiquity,the producingofauthorities,or the mask of obscurity; as any one mightdo, who had rathergive lustreto hisown name,thanlightto the minds of others. We oiIer no violence,and spreadno nets for the judgmentsof men, but lead them on tothings themselves,and their relations;that they mayviewtheirownstores,what they have to reasonabout,and whatthey may add, or procure,for the commongood. And ifat anytimeourselveshave erred,mistook,or brokeoff toosoon, yet aswe only propose to exhibit things naked, andopen, as they are,our errorsmay be the readierobserved,and separated,before they considerablyinfect the mass ofknowledge; and our labors be the moreeasily continued.And thus we hopeto establishforevera trueand legitimateunionbetweenthe experimentaland rationalfaculty,whosefallenand inauspiciousdivorces and repudiationshavedis-turbedeverythingin the familyof mankind.

But as these great_thingsare not at our disposal, wehere,at the entranceof our work7with theutmost humilityand ferveney_put forthour prayersto God, thatremember-ing themiseriesof mankind,andthe pilgrimageof this life,

18 THE GREAT I.N_TAURATIOIV

wherewepassbutfewdaysandsorrowful,hewouldvouch-safethroughourhands,andthehandsofothers,towhomhe hasgiventhelikemind,torelievethehumanracebyanewactofhisbounty.We likewisehumblybeseechhimthatwhatishumanmaynotclashwithwhatisdivine;andthat when the waysof the senses are opened, and a greaternatural light set up in the mind_nothing of incredulityand blindness toward divine mysteries may arise; butrather that the understanding,nowclearedup, and purgedof all vanity and superstition,may remainentirelysubjectto the divineoracles,andyield to faith, the things that arefaith's: and lastly, thatexpelling the poisonousknowledgeinfusedby the serpent,whichpuffsup andswells the humanmind,we mayneitherbe wiseabovemeasure,norgo beyondtheboundsof sobriety,but pursuethe truthin charity.

We now turn ourselves to men, with a few wholesomeadmonitionsand just requests. And first, we admonishthem to continue in a sense of their duty, as to divinematters;forthe senses are like the sun, whichdisplaystheface of the earth, but shuts up that of the heavens:andagain,that they run not into the contraryextreme,whichthey certainlywill do, if they think an inquiryinto natureany wayforbid them by religion. It was not thatpure andunspotted naturalknowledgewherebyAdamgave namestothings, agreeableto their natures, which caused his fall;but an ambitiousand authoritativedesireof moral l_nowl-edge, to judge of good and evil, which makes men revoltfrom God,and obey no laws but those of their own will.But for the sciences,which contemplatenature,the sacredphilosopherdeclares,"It is the gloryof God to concealathing, but the gloryof a king to find it out." 4 As if theDivine Being thus indulgently condescendedto exercisethe humanmind by philosophicalinquiries.

in thenext place, we advise all mankindtothink of thetrue ends of knowledge,and that they endeavornot after

Pray.xxv.$.

AUTHOR'SPREFACE 19

it for curiosity,contention,or the sake of despisingothers,nor yet for profit, reputation,power,or any such inferiorconsideration,but solely for the occasionsand uses of life;all along cohductingand perfecting it in the spirit of be-nevolence. Our requests are--1. That men do not con-ceive we here deliver an opinion,but a work; and assurethemselves we attempt not to found any sect or particulardoctrine, but to fix an extensive basis for the service ofhumannature. 2. That, for their ownsakes, they lay asidethe zeal and prejudices of opinions,and endeavor the com-mon good; and that being, by our assistance,freed andkept clear from the errorsand hindrancesof theway_theywould themselvesalso take part of the task. 8. That theydo not despair, as imaginingour project for a grandrestora-tion, or advancement of all kinds of knowledge, infinitelybeyond the power of mortals to execute; while in reality;it is the genuine stop and prevention of infinite error.Indeed, as our state is mortal, and human, a full accom-plishment c_uot be expected _n a single age_and mustthereforebe commendedto posterity. Norcould we hopeto succeed,if we arrogantlysearchedfor thesciencesin thenarrowcells of the humanunderstanding,and not submis-sively in the widerworld. 4. In the last place,to preventill effectsfrom contention,we desire mankind to considerhow far they have a rightto judgeour performance,uponthe foundations here laid down: for we reject all thatknowledge which is too hastily abstractedfrom things,as vague, disorderly, and ill-formed;and we cannot beexpected to abide by a judgmentwhich is itself calledin question.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE WORKIN SIX PARTS

1. Surveyand Extensionof theSciences; or,theAdvancementof Learning.2. l_ovumOrganum;or, Preceptsfor the Interpretationof Nature.3. Phenomenaof the Universe;or,NaturalandExperimentalHistory,on which

to foundPhilosophy.4. Ladderof the.Understanding.5. Precursors,orAnticipators,of the SecondPhl]osophy.6. SecondPhilosophy;or, ActiveScience.

WE DIVIDEthe whole of the work into six parts: thefirst whereofgives the substance,or general descriptionofthe knowledgewhichmankindat presentpossess; choosingto dwell a little upon things alreadyreceived,thatwe maythe easierperfecttheold, and leadon to new; beingequallyinclined to cultivatethe discoveriesof antiquity,as to strikeout fresh paths of science. In classing the sciences, wecomprehend not only the things already invented andknown, but also those omitted and wanted; for the intel-lectual globe, as welt as the terrestrial,has both its frostsand deserts. It is therefore no wonder if we sometimesdepart fromthe commondivisions. Foran addition,whileit altersthe whole,must necessarilyalterthepartsandtheirsections; whereasthe receiveddivisions are only fitted tothe received sum of the sciences, as it now stands. Withregardto the things we shall note as defective; it will beourmethod to give morethan thebaretitles, orshortheadsof whatwe desireto have done; withparticularcare,wherethe dignity or difficultyof the subject requiresit, eitherto lay down the rules for effecting the work,or make anattemptof our own,by way of example,or pattern,of thewhole. For it concerns our own character,no less thanthe advantageof others, to know that a mere capriciousidea has not presentedthe subject to our mind, and thatall we desire and aim at is a wish. For our designs am

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DISTRIBUTIONOF THE WORE 21

within the powerof all to compass,and we ourselveshavecertain and evident demonstrationsof their utility. Wecome not hither,as augurs,to measureout regionsin ourmind by divination,but like generals,to invade them forconquest. And this is the firstpart of the work.

When we have gone throughthe ancientarts,we shallpreparethe humanunderstandingfor pressing on beyondthem. The second object of the work embracesthe doc-trineof a moreperfectuse of reason,and the true helpsofthe intellectual faculties, so as to raise and enlargethepowersof the mind; and, as faras theconditionof human-ity allows,to tit it to conquerthe difficultiesand obscuritiesof nature. The thing we mean,is a kind of logic, by uscalled The Art of interpreting Nature; as differingwidelyfrom the commonlogic, which, however,pretends to assistand direct the understanding,andin that theyagree: but thedifferencebetweenthemconsistsin threethings, viz.,the end,the order of demonstrating,and the grounds of inquiry.

The end of our newlogic is to find, not arguments,butarts; notwhat agrees with principles, but principles them-selves: not probable reasons, but plans and designs ofworks--a different intention producing a different effect.In one the adversary is conquered by dispute, and in theother nature by works. The nature and order of the dem-onstrationsagree with this object. For in commonlogic,almostour whole labor is spent upon the syllogism. Logi-cians hitherto appear scarcely to have noticed induction,passing it over with some slight comment. But we rejectthesyllogistic method as being too confused,and allowingnatureto escapeout of our hands. For thoughnobodycandoubt that those things whichagreewith the middle termagree with each other,nevertheless,there is this sourceoferror,that a syllogismconsists of propositions,propositionsof words,and wordsare butthetokens and signs of things.Now, if the first notions,which are_as it were, the soulof words, and the basis of everyphil_poh_cal fabric,aren_ u_.ora y rlhastily abstracted from things,and_va_ue a_l .no[ cl.e_ ynaranaonlversx_y

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:. Indianapolis,Indiana

22 TIIE GREAT 13_TAURATION

definedand limited,the wholestructurefalls to the ground.We thereforereject the syllogism,and that not only as re.gards firstprinciples,to which logiciansdo not applythem,but also with respect to intermediatepropositions,whichthe syllogismcontrives to manage in such a way as torenderbarrenin effect,unfit for practice,and clearlyun-suited to the active branchof the sciences. Nevertheless,we would leave to the syllogism,and such celebratedandapplaudeddemonstrations,their jurisdictionover popularand speculative acts; while, in everythingrelatingto thenatureof things, we make use of inductionfor both ourmajor and minor propositions; for we considerinductionas that formof demonstrationwhichcloses in upon natureand presses on, and, as it were, mixes itself with action.Whence the commonorderof demonstratingis absolutelyinverted; forinstead of flyingimmediatelyfromthe senses,and particulars,to generals,as to certainfixed poles, aboutwhichdisputesalwaysturn,and derivingothers from theseby intermediates,in a short, indeed,but precipitatemanner,fit for controversy,but unfit to close with nature; wecon-tinually raise up propositionsby degrees,and in the lastplace, come to the most general axioms, which are notnotional, but well defined, and what nature allows of, asentering into the very essenceof things.'

I Thispassage,though terselyandenergeticallyexpressed,is foundeduponamisconceptionof deduction,or, as Baconphrasesi_,syllogisticreasoning,andits relationto induction. Thetwo processesare onlyreversemethodsof infer-ences, the one concludingfrom a generalto a particular,andthe otherfroma particularto a general,and both schemataare resolvableinto propositions,and proposi_ionsintowords,which, as he says,are but the tokensand signsof things, l_ow if these firstnotions,which are as it werethe soul of wordsand tae basisof everyphilosophicfabric,be hastilyabstractedfromthings,andvagueand notclearlydefinedandlimited, the wholestructure,whethererectedby inductionordeduction,orboth, as is mostfrequentlytheease, must falltotheground. Theerror,therefore,does not lie in the deductivemodeof proof,_vithoutwhichphysicalscience couldneveradvancebeyondits empiricalstage,hut in clothingthis method in the wflgarlanguageof the day,and reasoninguponits _ermsas if they pointedat somefact or antithesisin nature,insteadofpreviouslytestingtheaccuracyof suchexpressionsbyexperimentandobserva-tion. As suchno,ionsaremoregeneralthantheindividualcasesoutof whichthey arise, it follows that this inquirymustbe madethroughthe mediumofindnction,and the essentialmeritof Baconlies in framinga systemof rulesby whichthis ascendingscale of inferencemay be securedfromerror. As the

DI_STR_BUTIONOF THE WORK 28

But the moredifficultpart of our task consists in theform of induction,and the judgmentto bemadeby it; forthat form of the logicianswhich proceedsby simpleenu-meration,is a childishthing, concludesunsafely,lies opento contradictoryinstances,and regardsonly commonmat-ters, yet determinesnothing: while the sciences requiresucha formof induction,as canseparate,adjust,and verityexperience,andcometo a necessarydeterminationby properexclusionsandrejections.

Nor is this all; for we likewise lay the foundationsofthe sciences strongerand closer, and begin our inquiriesdeeper than men have hithertodone, bringing those thingsto the test whichthecommon logic has taken upon trust.The logicians borrowthe principles of the sciences fromthe sciences themselves, veneratethe first notions of themind, and acquiescein the immediateinformationsof thesenses, when rightly disposed; but we judge, that a reallogic should enter every province of the sciences witha greaterauthoritythan their own principles can give; andthat suchsupposedprinciplesshould be examined, till theybecomeabsolutelyclear and certain. As for firstnotionsofthe mind, we suspect all those that the understanding,leftto itself, procures; nor ever aUowthem till approved andauthorizedby a second judgment. And with respectto theinformationsof the senses, wehave many ways of examin-ing them; for the sensesare fallacious,though they discovertheir own errors; but theselie near, while themeans of dis-covery arc remote.

The senses are faulty in tworespects,as they either failneglectofthisimportantpreliminarytoscientificinvestigationvitiatedall theAristoteiianphysics,andkeptthehumanmindstationaryfortwothousandyears,hardlytoomuchpraisecanbeconferreduponthephilosopherwhonotonlypointedoutthegapbutsuppliedthematerialsforitsobliteration.Theardencyofhisnature,however,urgedhimtoextremes,andheconfoundedtheaccuracyof thedeductivemethodwiththestrawandstubbleonwhichitattemptedto erecta systemofphysics.Incensuringintermediamproposi-tions,Baconappearstohavebeenunawarethathewascondemningtheonlyformsthroughwhichreasonorinferencecanmanifestitself,andlecturingman-kindonthefutilityofaninstrumentwhichhewasemployingineverypageofhisbook.--.Ed.

THE GREAT IMSTAURATIOIV

or deceive us. For there are many things that escape thesenses, though ever so rightly disposed; as by the subtiltyof the whole body, or the minuteness of its parts; the dis-tanee of place; the slowness or velocity of motion; the com-monness of the object, etc. Neither do the senses, whenthey lay hold of a thing, retain it strongly; for evidence,and the informations of sense, are in proportion to a man,and not in proportion to the universe." And it is a gran[error to assert that sense is the measure of things.'

To remedy this, we have from all quarters brought to-gether, and fitted helps for the senses; and that rather byexperiments than by instruments; apt experiments beingmuch more subtile than the senses themselves, though as-sisted with the most finished instruments. We, therefore_lay no great stress upon the immediate and natural percep-

Baconheld,thateveryperceptionis nothingmorethantheconsciousnessofsomebodyactingeitherinteriorlyorfromwithoutuponthatportionof theframewhichis thepointof contact. Henceall the knowledgewe haveofthematerialworldarisesfromthemovementswhichit generatesinoursenses.Thesesensationssimplyinformus thatawideclassofobjectsexistindependentof ourselves,whichaflee_us in acertainmanner,anddonotconveyintoourmindstherealpropertiesof suchobjectssomuchastheeffectsof therelation

-; in whichtheystandtooursenses. Humanknowledgethusbecomesrelative;andthatwhichwecalltherelationof objectsto oneanotheris nothingmore

i thanthe relationwhichtheyhaveto ourorganization.Henceastheserela.tionsof objects,eitherinternalorexteriorto the mind,vary,sensationsmustvaryalongwiththem,andproduce,eveninthe sameindividual,a crowdofim-pressionseitherconflictingorinsomemeasureopposedto eachother. Sofaras thesefeelingsconcernmorals,it isthe businessofethicstobringthemundertheinfluenceofreason,and,selectingoutofthemsuchasarecalculatedto dig-nifyandelevateman'snature,to impartto thema trenchantandpermanent

'_ character,is respectsthatportionwhichflowinuponthe mindfromthein-ternalworld,it is thepeculiarprovinceof inductionasreformedbyourauthor,

_ to separatesuchasareillusoryfromthereal,andtoconstructoutof the latter_ aseriesofaxioms,expressingin hierarchicalgradationthegeneralsystemof=_ lawsbywhichtheuniverseisgoverned._d._ 3Thedoctrineof the lasttwoparagraphsmayappearcontradictoryto the_ opinionof somephilosophers,whomaintaintheinfallibilityof the senses,as_' wellasofreason; butthedisputeperhapsturnsratheruponwordsthanthings._: FatherMalebrancheisexpress,thatthesensesneverdeceiveus,yetasexpress

thattheyshouldneverbetrusted,withoutbeingverified;chargingthe errorsarisingin this caseuponhumanliberty,whichmakesa wrongchoice. See"Recherchede laV6rit6,"liv.i. chaps.5-8. The di_erencemayariseonly

i fromconsideringthesensesintwodifferentlights,viz.,physically,oraccording

tocommonuse;andmetaphysically,orabetractedly.The"NovumOr_,hum,clearsthewhole. SeealsoMatin_ersenus,"DelaV4rit_desScience_.' _Td.

DI_STRIBUTIONOF THE WORK 25

tions of the senses,but desire the senses to judge only ofexperiments,and experimentsto judge of things: on whichfoundation,we hopeto bepatronsof the senses,and inter-pretersof theiroracles. And thuswemean to procurethethingsrelatingto the light of nature,and the settingit upin the mind; which might well suffice,if the mind wereaswhitepaper. But since the mindsof men areso strangelydisposed, as not to receivethe true images of things, it isnecessaryalsothat a remedybe foundfor this evil.

The idols, or false notions,which possess the mind,areeither acquired or innate. The acquiredarise either fromthe opinions or sects of philosophers,or frompreposterouslaws of demonstration;butthe innate cleave to the natureof the understanding,which is foand muchmorepronetoerrorthan thesenses. Forhowevermen mayamusethem-selves, and admire,or almostadore the mind, it is certain,that like an irregularglass, it altersthe rays of things,byits figureand differentintersections.

The two formerkinds of idols maybe extirpated,thoughwithdifficulty;but this third is insuperable. All thatcanbe done, is to point them out, and mark,andconvict thattreacherousfaculty of the mind; lest when the ancienterrorsaredestroyed,newones should sprout out from theranknessof the soil: and,on the other hand, to establishthis forever,that the understandingcanmake no judgmentbut by induction,and the just formthereof. Whence thedoctrineof purgingthe understandingrequiresthreekindsof confutations,to fit it for the investigationof truth,viz. ;the confutationof philosophies,the confutationof demon-strations,and the confutationof the naturalreason. Butwhen these have been completed,and it has been clearlyseen what results are to be expected from the natureofthings, and the nature of the humanmind, we shall havethen furnisheda nuptial couch for the mind and the uni-verse, the divine goodness being our bridemaid. And letit be the prayerof ourEpithalamium,thatassistanceto manmayspringfromthis union,anda raceof discoveries,whichSCIENOE--YO1.21--2

26 THE GREAT I_STAURATIOI_

will contributeto hiswantsand vanquishhis miseries. Andthis is the secondpartof the work.

But as we proposenot only to pave and show theway,butalso to tread in it ourselves,we shall next exhibit thephenomenaof the universe; thatis, such experienceof allkinds, and such a naturalhistory,asmayafforda founda-tion to philosophy. For as no fine method of demonstra-tion, or formof explaining nature_can preservethe mindfrom error,and support it from falling; so neithercan ithencereceiveany matterof science. Those, therefore,whodeterminenot to conjectureand guess, butto find out andknow; not to inventfablesand romancesof worlds,buttolook into, and dissect the natureof this real world,mustconsult only things themselves. Nor can any force ofgenius, thought,or argument,be substitutedfor this labor,search,andinspection; not even thoughall the wits of menwereunited: this, therefore,musteitherbehad:or thebusi-ness bedesertedforever. But the conductof mankindhashithertobeen such, that it is no wondernature has notopenedherselfto them. For the informationof the sensesis treacherousand deceitful; observationcareless,irregular,and accidental;traditionidle, rumorous,and vain; practicenarrow and servile; experience blind, stupid, vague, andbroken; and natural history extremely light and empty:wretched materialsfor the understandingto fashion intophilosophyand the sciencesl Then comes in a preposter-ous subtiltyof augmentationand sifting,as a last remedy_that mendsnot the matterone jot, norseparatesthe errors.Whence thereare absolutelyno hopesof enlargingandpro-moting the sciences,withoutrebuildingthem.

The first materialsfor this purposemustbetaken froma new kind of naturalhistory. The understandingmustalso have fit subjects to work upon, as well as real helpsto workwith. But our history,no less thanour logic, dif-fers fromthe commonin manyrespects;particularly,1. Inits end or office; 2. Its collection; 3. Its subtilty; 4. Itschoice;and 5. Its appointmentfor what is to follow.

DISTRIBUTIONOF THE WORE 27

Our natural history is not designed so much to pleaseby its variety,or benefitby gainfulexperiments,asto affordlight to the discoveryof causes,and holdout the breaststophilosophy; for though we principally regardworks, andthe active parts of the sciences, yet we wait for the timeof harvest,and would not reap.the blade forthe ear. Wearewell awarethat axioms, rightly framed,will drawafterthem whole sheaves of works: but for that untimely andchildish desire of seeing fruits of new works before theseason,we absolutelycondemnand reject it, as the goldenapple that hindersthe progress.

With regard to its collection;we propose to showna-ture not only in a free state, as in the historyof meteors,minerals,plants,and animals; but moreparticularlyas sheis bound,and tortured,pressed,formed,and turnedout ofher courseby art and human industry. Hence we wouldset downall opposite experimentsof the mechanicandlib-eralarts, with manyothersnot yet formedintoarts; forthenatureof things is betterdiscoveredbythe torturingsof art,thanwhenthey areleft to themselves. Nor is it only a his-toryof bodies thatwe wouldgive; but alsoof theircardinalvirtues, or fundamentalqualities; as density, rarity, heat,cold, etc., which shouldbe comprisedin particularhistories.

The kind of experiments to be procuredfor our his-toryare much moresubtile and simple than the common;abundanceof them must be recoveredfromdarkness,andare such as no one wouldhaveinquiredafter,that was notled by constantand certaintractto the discoveryof causes;as beingin themselvesof nogreatuse, andconsequentlynotsought for theirown sake, but with regardto works: likethe lettersof the alphabetwith regard to discourse.

In thechoiceof our narrativesand experimentswehopeto have shown morecare than the otherwritersof naturalhistory; as receiving nothing but upon ocular demonstra-tion, or the strictest scrutiny of examination; and notheighteningwhat is deliveredto increase its miraculous-ness, but thoroughlypurging it of superstitionand fable.

_8 THE GREATZNSTAURATION

Besidesthis,we reject,witha particularmark,all thoseboastedandreceivedfalsehoods,which lJya strangeneg-lect have prevailedforso manyages, that theymaynolongermolestthe sciences.Forastheidle talesof nursesdoreallycorruptthemindsof children,wecannottoocare-fullyguardtheinfancyof i_hilosophyfromall vanityandsuperstition.And whenanynewor morecuriousexperi-mentis offered,thoughitmayseemto us certainandwellfounded;yetwe expresslyadd the mannerwhereinit wasmade;that,afterit shallbeunderstoodhowthingsappeartous,menmaybewareof anyerroradhering-tothem,andsearchaftermorein,fallibleproofs. We, likewise,all alonginterposeour directions,scruplesand cautions;and relig-iouslyguardagainstphantomsand illusions.

Lastly, havingwellobservedhowfar experimentsandhistorydistractthe mind; and howdifficultit is,especiallyfor tenderor prejudicedpersons,to conversewithnaturefromthebeginning,we shallcontinuallysubjoinour obser-vations,assomanyfirstglancesofnaturalhistoryatphiloso-phy; andthistogivemankindsomeearnest,thattheyshallnotbe keptperpetuallyfloatinguponthewavesof history;and thatwhentheycometo theworkoftheunderstanding,and the explanationof nature,they mayfind all thingsingreaterreadiness. This will concludethe third part.

After the understandinghas beenthus aidedand forti.fled,we shallbe preparedto enter uponphilosophyitself.But in sodifficultatask,thereare certainthings to be ob-served,aswellfor instructionas for presentuse. The firstis toproposeexamplesof inquiryand investigation,accord-ing toour ownmethod,in certainsubjectsof the noblestkind,butgreatlydifferingfromeachother,thata specimenmaybe hadof everysort. By theseexampleswemeannotillustrationsofrulesandprecepts,bat perfectmodels,whichwillexemplifythe secondpartof thiswork,and represent,as it were,to the eye,the wholeprogressof themind,andthecontinuedstructureand orderof invention,in the mostchosensubjects,afterthe samemannerasglobesand ma-

DISTRIBUTIONOF THE WO.RK 29

; chines facilitate the moreabstruseand subtile demonstra.tions in mathematics. We assign the fourth part of ourwork to these examples,which are nothing else thana par-ticularapplicationof the second part of our undertaking.4

The fifth part is only temporary,or of use but till therest are finished; whence we look upon it as interesttillthe principal be paid; for we do not propose to travel

:_ hoodwinked,so as to take no noticeof what mayoccur ofuse in the way. This part, therefore, will consistof such

: things as we have invented, experienced,or added, by thesamecommonuse of the understandingthat:othersemploy.For aswe have greaterhopes fromour constantconversa-tion with naturethan fromour forceof genius, the discov-erieswe shall thus make mayserve as inns on the road,for the mind to repose in, during its progressto greatercertainties. But this, without being at all disposedtoabide by anything that is not discovered, or proved, bythe true formof induction. Nor need anyone be shockedat this suspensionof the judgment, in a doctrine whichdoes not assert that nothing is knowable; but only thatthings cannot be known except in a certain order andmethod: while it allows particulardegrees of certainty,for the sake of commodiousnessand use, until the mindshall enteron the explanationof causes. Nor werethoseschoolsof philosophers,_who held positive truthto be un-attainable,inferiorto otherswhodogmatizedat will. Theydid not, however, like us, preparehelps for the guidanceof the senses and understanding,as we have don% but atonce abolished all belief and authority,which is a totallydifferentand almost opposite matter.

The sixth and last part of our work, to which all therest are subservient,is to lay down that philosophywhichshall flow from the just, pure and strict inquiry hithertoproposed. But to perfectthis, is beyond bothour abilities

4ThispartiswhattheauthorelsewheretermsscalainteUeo_us,ortheprog-lessoftheunderstanding,andwasintendedtobesuppliedbyhimin thewayofmonthlyproductions.Seehisdedicationofthe"Historyofthe_rinds"toPrinceCharles.--_haw. 5ThelaterAcademy,whoheldthe_$_a

80 THE GREAT 1N_ITAURATION

and our hopes,yetwe shall lay the foundaViousof It, andrecommendthe superstructureto posterity. Wedesignnocontemptiblebeginningto thework;andanticipatethatthefortuneof mankindwill leadit to suchaterminationas isnot possiblefor the presentraceof mento conceive. Thepointin viewis not onlythecontemplativehappiness,butthe wholefortunes,and affairs,and powers,and worksofmen. For manbeingtheministerand interpreterof nature_actsand understandssofaras he hasobservedof theorder,theworksand mindof nature,and can proceednofurther;for no poweris able tolooseor break the chainof causes,nor is natureto be conqueredbut bysubmission;whencethosetwinintentions,humanknowledgeandhumanpower,are reallycoincident;and thegreatesthindrancetoworksis the ignoranceof causes.

The capitalpreceptforthewholeundertakingis this,thattheeyeof the mind be nevertaken offfrom thingsthem-selves,but receivetheirimagestrulyastheyare. AndGodforbidthat ever we shouldofferthe dreamsof fancyforamodelof the world; but rather in his kindnessvouchsafeto us the meansof writinga revelationand true visionofthe tracesand moldsof the Creatorin his creatures.

Maythou,therefore,O Father,whogavestthe light ofvisionas the first fruit of creation,and who hast spreadover the fall of man the lightof thyunderstandingastheaccomplishmentof thy works,guardand directthis worl_which,issuingfromthygoodness_seeksin return thyglory!Whenthouhadst surve4redtheworkswhichthy handshadwrought,all seemedgoodin thy sight, and thou restedst.Butwhenmanturned to the worksof his hands,he foundallvanityandvexationof spirit,and experiencedno rest. iIf, however,we labor in thy works,thou wilt makeusto partakeof thy visionandsabbath;"we,therefore,hum-bly beseechthee to strengthenour purpose,that thoumayestbe willingto endowthy familyof mankindwithnewgifts, throughour hands,and the handsof thoseinwhomthou shalt implantthe samespirit.

FIRSTPARTOFTHE GREAT INSTAURATION

DIGNITY AND ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNINGIN NINEBOOKS

CONTENTSBOOK[

The DifferentOb]eotionsto Learningstatedand eonfutod;its DignityandMeritmaintained . 8_

BOOK11CHAPTERI

GeneralDivisionsof LearningintoHistory,Poetry,andPhilosophy,in re-lationto the ThreeFacultiesof the Mind--Memory,Imagination,andReason. ThesameDistributionappliesto Theology. . 8S

CHAPTERHHistorydividedinto lq'aturalandCivil; CivilsubdividedintoEcclesiastical

andLiterary. The Divisionof NaturalHistoryaccordingto the sub-jec_ matter,into the Historyof Generations,of Pneter-Generations,

and theArts. . 94

CRAPTERHISecondDivisionof NaturalHistory, in relationto its Use andEnd, into

NarrativeandInductive. Themostimportantendof NaturalHistoryis to aidin erectinga Bodyof Philosophywhich appertainsto Indue.tion. Divisionof the Historyof Generationsinto theHistoryof theHeavens,theH/storyof Meteors,the Historyof the EarthandSea,

_ the Historyof MassiveorCollectiveBodies,aud the Historyof Species 99(81)

m82 CONTENTS

CHAPTER IV

CivilHistorydividedinto Ecclesiasticaland Literary. Deficiencyof thelatter. TheA.bsenceof Preceptsforits Compilation. . ]00

CHAPTERVTheDignityof CivilHistoryandthe Obstaclesithas to encounter . 102

CHAPTERVIDivisionof CivilHistoryinto Memoirs,Antiquities,andPerfectHistory . 103

CHAPTERVIIDivision of Perfect Historyinto Chronicles,Biographies,and Relations.

TheDevelopmentof theirparts . 104:

CHAPTER VIIIDivisionof the Historyof Times into Universaland Particular. TheAd-

vantagesandDisadvantagesof both . . 108CHAPTERIX

SecondDivisionof the Historyof TimesintoAnnalsandJournala . . 109CHAPTERX

SecondDivisionof SpecialCivilHistoryinto PureandMixed . . 110CHAPTERXI

EcclesiasticalHistorydividedintotheGeneralHistoryof the Church,Hk-toryof Prophecy,andHistoryof Providence . 112

CHAPTERXIIThe Appendixof HistoryembracestheWordsof Men,as theBodyof His-

toryincludestheirExploits. Its DivisionintoSpeeches,Letterm,and_.pothegms . 113

CHAPTERXIHTheSecondleadingBranchof LearningmPoetry. Its DivisionintoNarra-

tive, Dramatic,andParabolic. ThreeExamplesof the latterapeciosdetailed . 114

BOOK.IllCHAPTERI

Divisionof Learninginto Theologyand Philosophy. The latterdividedintotheKnowledgeof God,of Nature,andof Man. ConstructionofPhilosophiaPrimaas theMotherof atl theSciences . . 13_

OONTENT_ 33CHAPTERII

Natural Theologywith its Appendix, the Knowledge of Angels andSpirits . 14_

CHAPTERIIINaturalPhilosophydividedinto Speculativeand Practical. The Neces-

mtyof keepingtheseTwoBranchesdistinct . 144CHAPTER IV

I_vmiouof theSpeculativeBranchof NaturalPhilosophyintoPhysicsandMetaphysics. Physicsrelate to the Investigationof EfficientCausesandMatter;Memphysmsto that of Final CausesandtheForm. Divi-sion of Physics into the Sciencesof the Principlesof Things,theStructureof Things,andtheVarietyof Things. Divisionof Physicsin relation to the Varietyof Things into Abstract and Concrete.Divisionof Concretesagreeswith the Distributionof the Parts ofNaturalHistory. Divisionof Abstractsintothe Doctrineof MaterialFormsand Motion. Appendixof SpeculativePhysics twofold:viz.,NaturalProblemsand the Opinionsof AncientPhilosophers. Meta-physicsdividedinto the Knowledgeof Formsand the DoctrineofFinalCauses . . .14_

CHAPTERVDivimonof thePracticalBranchof NaturalPhilosophyintoMechanicsand

Magic(ExperimentalPhilosophy),whichcorrespondto the SpeculativeDivision--MechanicetoPhysics, andMagictoMetaphysics. ThewordMagicclearedfromFalseInterpretation.AppendixtoActive Sciencetwofold:viz.,an Inventoryof HumanHelpsanda Catalogu_of Thingsof MultifariousUse . . 168

CHAPTERYIThe GreatAppendixof NaturalPhilosophybothSpeculativeand Practical.

Mathematics.Its ProperPositionnot amongtheSubstantialScience,! but iu theirAppendL_.MathematicsdividedintoPureand Mixed . 171

BOOE IVCHAPTERI

Divmionof the Knowledgeof Man into Human and Civil Philosophy.t

_ Human Philosophydividedinto the Doctrineof the BodyandSoulThe Constructionof one General Science,includingthe Nature and

_ State of Man. The latterdivided into the Doctrineof the HumanPersonandthe Connectionof theSoulwith the Body. Divisionof

84 CO_VTENTS

the Doctrineof thePersonof Manintothatof his Miseriesand Pre-rogatives. Divisionof the Relationsbetween theSoulandtheBodyinto theDoctrineso:[In&cationsand Impressions. Physiognomyandthe Interpretationof Dreamsassignedto the Doctrineof Indications . 175

CHAPTER H

DivisionoftheKnowledgeoftheHumanBodyintotheMedicinal,Cosmetic,Athletic,andtheVoluptuaryArts.DivisionofMedicineintoThreeFunctions:viz.,thePreservationofHealth,theCureofDiseases,andthe Prolongationof Life. The last distinc_fromthe two former. . 182

CHAPTERILlDivisionof theDoctrineof theHumanSoulintothatof theInspiredEssence

and the Knowledgeof the Sensibleor ProducedSoul. SecondDivisionof the samephilosophyintotheDoctrineof theSubstanceand theFao-ultics of theSoul. TheUse andObjectsof the latter. Two.Appen-dicestothe Doctrineaf the Facultiesof the Soul: vlz., NaturalDivioa-tionandFascination(Mesmerism). TheFacultiesof the SensibleSouldividedinto those of Motionand Sense . 199

.BOOKVCHAPTERI

Divisionof theUse and Objectsof the Facultiesof theSoul intoLogicandEthics. Division of Logic into the ArLsof Invention,Judgment,Memoryand Tradition . 210

CHAPTER IIDivisionof Invention into the Invention of Arts and Arguments. The

former,though the moreimportantof them,is wanting. DivisionoftheInventionof Arts intoLiterate(Instructed)Experienceanda NewMethod(NovumOrgantm0). An Illustrationof Li_erateExperience . 212

CI_APTER I/I:Divisionof theInventionof Argumentsinto Promptuary,orPlacesof Prep-

aration,andTopical,or Placesof Suggestion. TheDivisionof TopicsintoGeneraland Particular.An Exampleof ParticularTopicsaffordedby anInquiryinto theNatureof theQualitiesof LightandHeavy . 227

CHAPTERIVThe Art ofJudgmentdividedintoInductionand theSyllogism. Induction

developedin the Novum0rganum. TheSyllogismdividedintoDirectand InverseReduction. InverseReductiondividedinto the Doctrine

CO_-TE_S 85of AnalytiesandConfutations.The divisionof thelatterintoConfu-tationsof Sophisms,theUnmaskingof Vulgarisms(EquivocalTerms),and the Destructionof DelusiveImagesor Idols. DelusiveAppear-ancesdividedinto Idola Tribe, Idola Spec_, and IdolaFori. Appen-dix to the Art of Judgment. TheAdapting the Demonstrationto theNatureof the Subject . 285

CHAPTERVDivisionof theRetentiveArt intotheAids of theMemoryand the Nature

of theMemoryitself. Divisionof the Doctrineof MemoryintoPreno-tionandEmblem . . 244

BOOK 171CHAPTERI

Divisionof Traditioninto the Doctrineof the Organ,theMethodand theIllustrationof Speech. TheOrganof SpeechdividedintotheKnowl-edgeof the Marksof Things,of Speakingand Writing. The lasttwocomprisethetwo Branchesof Grammar._TheMarksof ThingsdividedintoHieroglyphicsandRealCharacters. GrammaragaindividedintoLiteraryandPhilosophical.Prosodyreferredto theDoctrineof Speech,andCiphersto the Departmentof Writing. . 24_r

CHA.PTERIIMethodof Speechincludesa widePartof Tradition. Styledthe Wisdom

of Delivery. Variouskindsof Methodsenumerated. TheirrespectiveMerits . $59

CHAPTERHITheGroundsandFunctionsof Rhetoric. ThreeAppendiceswhichbelong

onlyto the PreparatoryPart,viz., the Colorsof GoodandEvil, bothsimpleand composed;the Antithesisof Things(the pro and con ofGeneralQuestions); the MinorForms of Speech (the Elaboration0 Exordiums,Perorations,and LeadingArguments) . 268

CHAPTERIV

Two General Appendicesto Tradition,viz., the Arts o_ Teachingand_rltieism.......... 800

86 C'O__'TENT8

BOOKVIICHAPTERI

Ethics dividedinto theDoctrineof Modelsandthe Georglce(Culture)ofthe Mind. Divisionof Modelsinto the Absoluteand ComparativeGood. AbsoluteGooddividedinto Personaland National . 305

CHAPTERIIDivisionof IndividualGoodinto Active andPassive. That of Passive

GoodintoConservativeand Perfcetive. Goodof the Commonwealthdividedinto GeneralandRespective. . 518

CHAPTERIHTheCultureof the Minddividedinto the Knowledgeof CharacteristicDif-

ferencesof Affections,of RemediesandCores. Appendixrelatingtothe Harmonybetweenthe Pleasuresof theMindand the Body . 8fl

.BOOKVIII(Y_tAI_EII

Civil Knowledgedividedinto the Art of Conversation,the _rt of Nego-tiation,andthe Artof StatePolicy . . 885

CHAPTERIITheArtof Negotiationdividedinto the Knowledgeof DispersedOccasions

(Conductin ParticularEmergencies),andintothe Scienceof RisinginLife. Examplesof the formerdrawnfromSolomon. Preceptsing to Self-advancement.... 940

CHAPTERIIIThe Artsof Empireor StatePolicyomitted. TwoDefleieneiesaloneno-

ticed. TheArt of EnlargingtheBoundsof Empire,and the Knowl-edge of UniversalJusticedrawnfromthe Fountainsof Law . 385

BOOKI.XThe Oomlm_mentsof _aeologyomitted. ThreeDefl_ _

TheRightUse of Reasonin Mattersof Faith. The Knowledge_ timDegreesof Unity in the City of GOd. The Emanationsof the HolyScriptures . .418

ON THE DIGNITY AND

ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING

F.I.RS T .BOOKTheDifferentObjectionsto Learningstatedandconfuted;its Dignity

andMerit maintained

TOTHEKING

S UNDERthe old law, most excellentking, thereweredaily sacrificesand free oblations'--theonearisingoutof ritualobservance,and theother froma pious generosity,soI deem that all faithfulsubjectsowe'their kingsadoubletributeof affectionand duty. In thefirstI hopeI shall neverbe founddeficient,but as regardsthe latter,thoughdoubtfulof theworthinessof mychoice,I thoughtit more befittingto tendertoyour Majestythatservicewhichrather refers to the excellenceof your indi-vidualpersonthan to the businessof the State.

In bearingyourMajestyin mind,as is frequentlymycustomand duty,I have been oftenstruckwith admira.tion,apart from your other gifts of virtueand fortune,atthe surprisingdevelopmentof that part of your naturewhichphilosopherscall intellectual. Thedeepand broadcapacityof your mind, the grasp of your memory,thequicknessof your apprehension,the penetrationof yourjudgment,your lucid methodof arrangement,and easyfacilityof speech--atsuch extraordinaryendowmentsIam forciblyremindedof the saying of Plato, "that allscienceis but remembrance,'"and thatthe humanmind

! SeeNumb._vlii.23; Lovit.xxii. 18.* Plato's Ph$odo,i. 72 (Steph.);Thewt. i. 166, 191; Menon,ii. 81; and

Arlstot. de Memor.2. (87)

88 ADVAIVOEMENTOF LEARN1-N(_

is originallyimbued with all knowledge; that whieh sheseems adventitiouslyto acquirein life being nothingmorethana returnto herfirst conceptions,which had been over-laid by the grossnessof the body. In no person so muchas your Majestydoes this opinion appear more fully con-firmed,your soul being apt to kindle at the intrusionofthe slightest object; and even at the spark of a thoughtforeignto the purpose to burst into flame. As the Scrip-ture says of the wisest king, "That his heart was as thesandsof thesea,'" which,thoughone of the largestbodies,containsthe finestand smallestparticlesof matter. In likemannerGodhasendowedyourMajestywitha mindcapableof graspingthe largestsubjectsandcomprehendingthe least,thoughsuch an instrumentseemsan impossibilityin nature.As regardsyourreadinessof speech,I am remindedof thatsaying of Tacitus concerningAugustus Cmsar,"Augustoprofluens ut qum principem virum deceret, eloquentiafuit.'" For all eloquence which is affected or over-labored, or merely imitative, though otherwiseexcellent,carrieswith it an air ofservility, nor is it free to followits own impulses. But your Majesty's eloquence is in-deed royal,streamingand branchingout in nature'sfash-ion as froma fountain, copious and elegant,original andinimitable. And as in those things which concern yourcrownand family, virtueseems to contendwith fortune--your Majestybeing possessedof a virtuousdispositionanda prosperous government,a virtuous observanceof theduties of the conjugalstate with most blessed and happyfruit of marriage,a virtuousand most Christiandesire ofpeace at a time when contemporaryprinces seem no lessinclined to harmony--solikewise in intellectualgifts thereappearsas greata contentionbetween your Majesty'snat-ural talents and the universality and perfection of yourlearning. Nor indeed would it be easy to find any mon-

s HI.Kingsiv.29. WemayobservethatBaconinvariablyquotesfromthe_'ul_ate,towhichourreferencespoint.Tacitus,Annales,xiii.3.

A.DVA.NC.EMENT OF LEARNING E 89

arch since the Christian era who could bear any compar.ison with your Majesty in the variety and depth of yourerudition. Let any one run over the whole line of kings,and he will agree with me. It indeed seemsa great thingin a monarch, if he can find time to digest a compendiumor imbibe the simple elements of science, or love andcountenance learning; but that a king, and he a kingborn, should have drunk at the true fountain of knowl-edge, yea, rather, should have a fountain of learning inhimself,is indeed little shortof a miracle. And the moresince in your Majesty's heart are united all the treasuresof sacred and profane knowledge, so that like Hermesyour Majesty is invested with a triple glory, being dis-tinguished no less by the power of a king than by theilluminationof a priest and the learning of a philosopher.*Since, then, your Majesty surpasses other monarchs bythis property, which is peculiarly your own, it is butjust that this dignified pre-eminence should not only becelebratedin the mouthsof the present age, and be trans-mittedto posterity,but also that it should be engravedinsome solid workwhich mightserve to denote the powerofso greata king and the height of his ]earning.

Therefore, to returnto our undertaking: no oblationseemed more suitable than some treatiserelating to thatpurpose,the sum of which should consist of two parts---the first of the excellence of learning, and the merit ofthosewho labor judiciouslyand with energy for its propa-gation and development. The second, to point out whatpartof knowledgehas been alreadylabored and perfected_and what portionsleft unfinishedor entirely neglected;inorder,since I dare not positively advise your Majestytoadopt anyparticularcourse,that by a detailedrepresenta-tion of ourwants,I may excite your Majestyto examinethe treasuresof your royal heart, and thence to cxtract_whateverto your magnanimityandwisdommay seem bestfitted to enlarge the boundariesof knowledge.

: s Poemanderof HermesTrismegistus.

?:

4[0 MLDIZANOEJIE1%"I'OF LEARNING

On the thresholdof the first part it is advisable to siftthe meritsof knowledge,andclearit of thedisgracebroughtuponit by ignorance,whetherdisguised(1) in the zealof di-vines,(2)the arroganceof politicians,or(8) the errorsof menof letters.

Some divines pretend,1. "That knowledge is to be re-ceived with great limitation,as the aspiring to it was theoriginalsin, and thecauseof the fall; 2. That it has some-what of the serpent, and puffeth up"; 8. That Solomonsays, "Of making books there is no end: much study iswearinessof the flesh; for in muchwisdom is much grief;and he that increasethknowledge,increasethsorrow":_4."That St. Paul cautionsbeing spoiled throughvain philos-ophy":' 5. "That experienceshows learnedmen havebeenheretics; and learned times inclined to atheism; and thatthe contemplationof second'causes takes fromour depen-dence upon God, whois the first."

To this we answer,1. It was not the pure knowledgeof nature,by the light whereofman gave namesto all thecreaturesin Paradise,agreeableto their natures,thatocca-sionedthe fall; but the proudknowledge of good and evil,with an intent in manto give law to himself,and dependno moreupon God. 2. Nor can any quantity of naturalknowledge puff up the mind; for nothing fills, much lessdistends the soul, butGod. Whence as Solomondeclares,_'Thatthe eye is not satisfiedwithseeing, northe earwithl_earing";' so of knowledgeitself he says, "God hath madeall things beautiful in their seasons; also he hath placedthe worldin man'sheart; yet cannotmanfind out the workwhichGodworkethfromthebeginningto the end"; ' herebydeclaringplainlythat Godhasframedthemindlike a glass,capableof the imageof the universe,and desirousto receiveit as the eye to receive the light; and thus it is not onlypleasedwiththe varietyand vicissitudesof things, butalsoendeavorsto findout the laws they observein theirchanges

* Eccles.xiL12,andi.18. _i Cot.viii.I.s Eecles.i 8 i Eccles.ili.ii.

ADVANCEMENTOF LEARNING 41

and alterations. And if such be the extent of the mind,there is no dangerof filling it with any quantityof knowl-edge. But it is merelyfromits qualitywhentakenwithoutthetruecorrectivethat knowledgehassomewhatof venomor malignity. The correctivewhich renders it sovereignischarity, for according to St. Paul, "Knowledge puffethup, but charitybuildeth."' 8. For the excess of writingand readingbooks, the anxiety of spirit proceedingfromknowledge,and the admonitionthat we be not seducedbyvain philosophy; when these passagesare rightly under-stood,they mark out the boundariesof humanknowledge,so asto comprehendthe universalnatureof things. Theselimitationsarethree: the first,that weshould not placeourfelicity in knowledge,soas to forget mortality;the second,that we use knowledge so as to give ourselves ease andcontent, not distaste and repining; and the third, that wepresumenotby the contemplationof nature,to attainto themysteries of God. As to the first, Solomon excellentlysays, "I saw that wisdom excclleth folly as far as lightexcelleth darkness. The wise man's eyes are in his headbut the fool walketh in darkness; and 1 myself perceivedalsothatone event happenethto themall." z, And for thesecond,it is certain that no vexation or anxiety of mindresults fromknowledge,but merelyby accident;all knowl-edge,and admiration,whichis the seed of knowledge,beingpleasantin itself; butwhen we frameconclusionsfrom ourknowledge,apply them to our own particular,and thenceministerto ourselvesweak fearsor vastdesires;then comeson thatanxiety and troubleof mind whichisheremeant--when knowledgeis no longer the dry light of Heraclitus,but the drenchedone, steeped in the humorsof the affec-tions._t 4. The thirdpointdeservesto be moredweltupon;for if anyman shall think, by his inquiriesafter materialthings, to discoverthe natureor will of Cod, he is indeedspoiledby vain philosophy;forthe contemplationof God's

,0I. (]or.viii1. n Eccles.ik13,14." lp. 8tob.Serm.v. 120,inRi_tar'sHist.Phil41.

4.2 ADVANCEMENTOF LEARNING

works producesknowledge, though, with regard to him, notperfect knowledge,but wonder, which is broken knowledge.It may, tj_erefore,be properly said, "That the sense resem-bles the sun, whichshowsthe terrestrial globe, but concealsthe celestial";" for thus the sense discoversnatural things,while it shuts up divine. .And hence some learned menhave, indeed,been heretical,while they sought to seizethesecrets of the Deity borneonthe waxenwings of the senses.5. As to the point that too muchknowledgeshould inclineto atheism, and the ignoranceof secondcauses make usmore dependentupon God, we ask Job's question,"Willye lie for God, as one man will do for another,to gratifyhim?"" For certainlyGod works nothing in naturebutby second causes;"and to assert the contraryis mere im-posture, as it were, in favor of God, and offeringup to theauthorof truththe uncleansacrificeof a lie. Undoubtedlya superficialtinctureof philosophymay incline the mindtoatheism, yet a furtherknowledgebringsit backto religion;"for on the thresholdof philosophy, where second causesappearto absorbthe attention,someoblivionof the highestcausemayensue; but when the mind goes deeper,and seesthe dependenceof causes and the works of Providence,itwill easily perceive, according to the mythology of thepoets, that the upperlink of Nature'schain is fastenedtoJupiter's throne." To conclude,let no one weaklyimaginethat man can search too far, or be too well studied in thebook of God's word,and works,divinity, and philosophy;but rather let tldemendeavoran endlessprogressionin both,only applying all to charity, and not to pride--to use, notostentation, withoutconfounding the two different streamsof philosophy and revelationtogether.'

Phil.Jud.deSomnis,p.41. 14Job.xiii._.Hooker,Eccl.Pol.i. 9; Butler,_lhal.parti. c.2.16Seetheauahor'sessayonAtheism,andMr.Boyle'sessaysupontheUmefulnessofPhilo0ophy.

'_Iliad.viii.19;andconf.Plato,Themt.L 153.Thedisputebetweentherationalandscripturaldivinesisstillonfoot;the_ormerare:forreconcilingreasonandphilosophywithfaithandreligion;andthelatterforkeepingthemdistinct,as thingsincoml_tible,ormakingreason

ADVAIV_EMEIVT09'LEARNIN6? 48z

The reflectionscast upon learningby politicians, arethese. 1. "That it enervatesmen's minds,and unfitsthemfor 2. That it their forarms; perverts dispositions _overn-

_: mentand politics; 8.That it makes them too curious and_ irresolute,by varietyof reading; tooperemptoryorpositivei by strictnessof rules; tooimmoderateand conceitedby the! greatnessof instances;toounsociableand incapacitatedfor

the times, by the dissimilitudeof examples; or at least,4. That it diverts from action and business,and leads toa love of retirement;5. That it introducesa relaxationingovernment,as everyman is more ready to argue thanobey; whenceCato the censor--whenCarneadescameam-bassadorto Rome,and the youngRomans,alluredwith hiseloquence,flocked about him--gave counsel in open senate,to granthim his despatchimmediately,lest he shouldinfectthemindsof the youth,andinsensiblyoccasionanalterationin the State." "

The same conceit is manifestin Virgil, who, preferringthe honorof his countryto that of his profession,challengedthe arts of policy in theRomans,as somethingsuperiortoletters,the pre-eminencein which,he freelyassigns to theGrecians.

"Turegereimperiopopulos,Romanememento:H_tibieruntartes."--lEn,vi.851.

And we also observe that Anytus, the accuserof Socrates,i charged him in his impeachmentwith destroying, in the

minds of young men, by his rhetoricalarts, all authorityand reverencefor the laws ofthe country.'

1. But theseand the like imputationshaverathera show_- of gravity, than anyjust ground; for experienceshowsthat

learningand armshave flourishedin the samepersonsand_ ages. As to persons,there are no better instancesthan

Alexander and C_sar,the one Aristotle's scholarin phi-andknowledgesubjecttofaithaudreligion.Theauthorisclear,thatthey

_ shouldbekeptseparate,aswillmorefullyappearhereafter,whenhecomestotreatoftheologT.--Bhaw.

_. tsPlutarchinM.Cato. toPlato,_.pol.Soc.

44 ADVANCF_,MENTOF I._AR1VING

losophy, and the other Cicero's rival in eloquence; andagain, Epmninonclasand Xenophon, the one whereoffirstabatedthe powerof Sparta,and the other firstpaved theway for subverting the Persian monarchy. This concur-renceof learningand arms, is yet more visible in timesthan in persons,as an ago exceedsa man. For in Egypt,Assyria, Persia,Greece,and Rome, the times most famousforarmsarelikewisemostadmiredfor learning; so thatthegreatestauthorsand philosophers,the greatestleadersandgovernors,have lived in the same ages. Nor can it wellbe otherwise; for as the fulness of humanstrength, bothin body and mind, comes nearly at an age; so arms andlearning, one whereof corresponds to the body, the otherto the soul, have a near concurrencein point of time.

2. And that learning should rather prove detrimentalthan serviceable in the art of government,seemsveryim-probable. It is wrongto trustthe naturalbodyto empirics,who commonlyhave a few receiptswhereonthey rely, bulwho know neitherthe causes of diseases,nor the constitu-tions of patients, nor the dangerof accidents,northe truemethods of cure. /knd so it must needs be dangeroustohave the civil bodyof States managedby empiricalstates-men, unless well mixed with others who are grounded inlearning. On the contrary,it is almost without instance,that any governmentwas unprosperousunder learnedgov-ernors. For howevercommonit has been with politiciansto discredit learned men, by the name of pedants,yet itappears from history, that the governments of princes inminorityhave excelled the governmentsof princes in ma-turity, merely because the managementwas in learnedhands. The State of Romefor the firstfive years,so muchmagnified,during the minorityof Nero, was in the handsof Seneca, a pedant: so it was for ten years, during theminority of Gordianus the younger, with great applause inthe hands of Misitheus, a pedant; and it was as happybefore that, in the minority of Alexander Severus, underthe rule of women, assisted by preceptors. And to look

_D ]r_NCEMEI_f OF LE_tR_TnVG _5

into the governmentof the bishops of Rome,particularlythat of Plus and Sextus Quintus,who were both at theirentranceesteemedbut pedanticalfriars,we shall find thatsuch popes did greater things, and proceededupon truerprinciplesof state,than thosewhorose to the papacyfromaneducationin civil affairs,and the courtsof princes. Forthough men bred to learningareperhapsat a loss in pointsof convenience,and presentaccommodations,called"reasonsof state,yet they are perfect in the plaingroundsof relig-ion, justice, honor, and moralvirtue, which, if well pur-isued, there will be as little use of reasonsof state,as of

physic in a healthy constitution. Nor can the experienceof one man's life furnish examples and precedents for

: another's: present occurrences frequently correspond to: ancient examples, better than to later. And lastly, the: geniusof any single man canno more equal learning,than

a private purse hold way withthe exchequer.8. As to the particularindispositionsof the mind for

politics and government,laid to the charge of learning,if; they areallowed of any force, it must be remembered,that: learning affordsmore remediesthan it breedsdiseases; for

if, by a secret ,operation, it renders men perplexed andirresolute, on the other hand, by plain precept, it teacheswhen, and upon whatgrounds, to resolve,and howto carrythings in suspense, without prejudice: if it makes men

: positive and stiff, it shows what things are in their naturedemonstrative, what conjectural; and teaches the use of

_ distinctionsandexceptions,aswell asthe rigidness of prin-: ciples and rules. If it misleads, by the unsuitablenessof

examples, it shows the force of circumstances,the errorsof comparisons,and the cautions of application;so that in

_: all cases,it rectifiesmoreeffectuallythan it perverts: andthese remedies it conveys into the mind muchmoreeffec-tually by the forceand variety of examples. Let a man

:: look into the errorsof Clementthe Seventh, so livelily de-

91Bythe Italians"Ragionidi stato."

scribed by Guiceiardini;or into those of Cicero,describedby himself in his epistles to Atticus, and he will fly frombeing irresolute:let him look into the errorsof Phocion,and he will bewareof obstinacy or inflexibility: let himread the fable of Ix]on,': and it will keep him fromcon-ceitedness:let him lock intothe errorsof thesecondCato_and he willnevertreadoppositeto the world."

4. Forthepretencethat ]earningdisposesto retirement,privacy, and sloth; it werestrange if what accustoms themind to perpetualmotionand agitationshould induce in-dolence; whereasno kind of men love business,forits ownsake, but the learned; while others love it for profit, ashirelings for the wages; others for honor; others becauseit bears them up in the eyes of men, and refreshestheirreputations,whichwould otherwisefade; or because it re.mindsthem of their fortune_and gives them opportunitiesof revenging and obliging; or because it exercises somefaculty, whereinthey delight, and so keeps them in goodhumorwith themselves. Whence, as false valor lies in theeyes of the beholders,such men'sindustrylies in the eyesof others,or is exercisedwith a view to their owndesigns;while the learned love business,as an action accordingtonature,and agreeableto thehealth of the mind,asexerciseis to that of the body: so that_of all men, they arethe mostindefatigablein such businessas may deservedlyfill andemploythe mind. And if thereareany laboriousin study_yet idle in business,this proceeds either from a weaknessof body, or a softnessof disposition,and not fromlearningitself, as Senecaremarks_"Quidam tam aunt umbratilesutputent in turbido esse, quiequid in ]uce est." s_ The con-sciousnessof such a dispositionmay indeed incline a manto learning,but learningdoes not breedany such temperin him.

If it be objected, that learning takes up much time_which might be better employed,I answerthat the most

_ Pind.Pyth.ii.21. g8Cie.adAtt.i. 1.Seneca'sEpistles,illneartheend.

ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNIIV6_ 47

active or busy men have many vacant hours, while theyexpect the tides and returns of business; and then thequestion is, howthose spaces of leisure shall be filled up,whetherwithpleasureorstudy? Demosthenesbeingtauntedby iEschines,a man of pleasure,that his speechessmeltofthe lamp, very pertly retorted, "There is great differencebetween the objects which you and I pursue by lamp-light.''_' No fear, therefore,that learning should dis-place business,for it ratherkeeps and defends the mindagainstidleness and pleasure,which might otherwiseenterto the prejudicebothof businessand learning. 5. For theallegation that learning should underminethe reverencedueto laws and government,it is a mere calumny,withoutshadowof truth; for to say that blind customof obedienceshould bea saferobligationthan duty, taughtand under-stood, is to say that a blind man may tread surer by aguide than a man with his eyes open can by a light.And, doubtless,learning makes the mind gentle and pli-able to government,whereasignorancerendersit churlishand mutinous; and it is always found that themost bar-barous, rude, and ignoranttimes have been most tumul-tuous, changeable,and seditious.

6. As to the judgmentof Catothe Censor,hewas pun-ished for his contemptof learning,in the kind whereinheoffended,for when past threescorethe humortook him tolearn Greek,which shows that his formercensure of theGrecianlearning was ratheran-affectedgravity than hisinwardsense." And, indeed, the Romansnever arrivedat their height of empire till they had arrived at theirheight of arts; for in the time of the first two C_sars,when their governmentwas in its greatestperfection,therelived thebestpoet,Virgil; thebest historiographer,Livy; thebest antiquary,Varro; and the best, or secondbestorator,Cicero,that the world has known. And as to the persecu-tionof Socrates,the time mustbe rememberedin which it

" Plutarch's"Life of Demosthenes,"not_id of 2_schincs,butPytheH._' Plutarch'sM. _,t,o.

148 ADVANCEMENTOF LEARNING

occurred,viz., under the reign of the Thirty Tyrants, of allmortals the bloodiestand basest that ever reigned, since thegovernment had no sooner returned to its senses than thatjudgment was reversed. Socrates, from being a criminal,started at once into a hero, his memoryloaded with honorshuman and divine, and his discourses, whichhad been pre-viously stigmatized as immoral and profane, were consid-ered as the reformersof thought and manners2' And letthis suffice as an answer to those politicians who havepresumed, whether sportively or in earnest, to disparagelearning.

We come now to that sort of discredit which is broughtupon learning by learned men themselves; and this pro-ceeds either (1) from their fortune, (2) their manners, or(3) the nature of their studies.

1. The disrepute of learning from the fortune or con-dition of the learned, regards either their indigence, re-tirement, or meanness of employ. As to the point, thatlearned men grow not so soon rich as others, because theyconvert not their labors to profit, we might turn it over tothe friars, of whom Machiavel said, "That the kingdom ofthe clergy had been long since at an end, if the reputationand reverence toward the poverty of the monks and men-dicants had not borne out the excessesof bishops and prel."ates. ''2" For soShe splendor and magnificenceof the greathad longsince sunk into rudeness and barbarism, if the pov-erty of learned men had notkept up civility and reputation.But to drop such advantages,it is wortho.bservinghow rev-erend and sacred poverty was esteemed for some ages inthe Roman State, since, as Livy says, "There never was arepublic greater,more venerable,and more abounding ingood examples than the Roman,norone thatso long with-stoodavariceand luxury, or so much honoredpovertyandparsimony.''_ And we see, when Rome degenerated,howJulius C_sar after his victorywas counselled to begin the

Plato,Apol.Socr. 28Maeh.Hist.deFirenza,b.10._gLivy'spreface,towardtheend.

ADVANCEMENTOF LEARMNG _@

restorationof the State, by abolishing the reputation ofwealth. And, indeed, as we truly say that blushing isthe livery of virtue, though it may sometimes proceedfromguilt,_so it holds true of povertythat it is the at-tendant of virtue, though sometimesit mayproceed frommismanagementand accident.

As for retirement,it is a theme so commonto extol aprivate life, not taxed with sensuality and sloth, for theliberty, the pleasure,and the freedom from indignity itaffords, that every one praises it well, such an agree-ment it has to the natureand apprehensionsof mankind.This may be added, that learnedmen, forgottenin Statesand not living in the eyes of theworld,are like the imagesof Cassius and Brutus at the funeralof Junia, which notbeing representedas many others were, Tacitus said ofthem that"they outshonethe rest, because not seen.''s_

As for their meannessof employ,that most exposedtocontemptis the educationof youth, to which they arecom-monlyallotted. But howunjust this reflectionis to all whomeasurethings, not by popularopinion,butby reason,willappearin the fact that menaremorecarefulwhatthey putinto new vessels than into those alreadyseasoned. It ismanifest that things in theirweakest stateusually demandour best attention and assistance. Hearkento the Hebrewrabbis:"Your young men shall see visions, your old menshall dreamdreams";ssupon which the commentatorsob-serve,that youth is the worthierage, inasmuchas revela-tion by vision is clearerthan by dreams. And to say thetruth, how much soever the lives of pedants have been

' ridiculed upon the stage, as the emblem of tyranny, be-cause the modernloosenessor negligence has not duly re-gardedthe choiceof properschoolmastersand tutors; yet

!_ the wisdom of the ancientestand best times always com-_ plained that Statesweretoo busywith laws andtoo remiss

soDiog.Cyn.ap.Laert.vi.54;compareTaeitus,Agric.4.5,of Domitian,) "Bmvusvultusetrubor,aquosOcontrapudoremmun/ebat."slAnnals,iii._6. s_Joelii.28.Serr._c_--Vol.21--s

50 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING

in point of education. This excellentpart of ancient dis-cipline, has in some measure been revived of late by thecollegesof Jesuits abroad; in regard of whose diligence infashioning the morals and cultivating the minds of youth,I may say, as Agesilaus said to his enemy Pharnabasus,"Talis quum sis, utiaam noster esses.'"'

2. The manners of learned men belong rather to theirindividual persons than to their studies or pursuits. :Nodoubt, as in all other professions and conditionsof life,bad and good are to be found among them; yet it mustbe admitted that learning and studies, unless they fall inwith very depraved dispositions, have, in conformity withthe adage, "Abire studiain mores," a moral influenceuponmen's lives. For my part I cannot find that any disgraceto learningcan proceed from the habits of learned men, in-herentin them as learned,unless peradventurethat maybea fault which was attributed to Demosthenes,Cicero, thesecond Cato,and many others,that seeing the times theyread of more pure than their own,pushed their servilitytoo far in the reformationof manners,and to seek to ira.pose, "by austere precepts, the laws of anc'ientasceticismupon dissolute times. Yet even antiquity should haveforewarnedthem of this excess; for Solon, upon beingasked if he had given his citizensthe best laws,replied,"The best they were capableof receiving."" And Plato,finding that he had fallen upon corrupttimes, refusedtotake part in the administrationof the commonwealth,say-ing thata man should treat his countrywith the samefor-bearanceas his parents,andrecallherfroma wrongcourse,notby violenceor contest,but by entreatyand persuasion.'_Ceesar'scounselloradministersthe samecaveatin thewords,"Non adveterainstitutarevocamusqueejampridemcorruptismoribusludibriosunt."" Cicero pointsout the sameerrorin the second Cato, when writing to his friend Atticus:

= Plut."Life of AgesU." u Plutarch,Solon.Epist. Z.iii. 331; ande2.Ep.T. iii. 316.

u SaUust,Cat.Conspiracy.

ADVANCEMENT OF LEA__NING 51

"Cato optime sentit sed noeet interdum Reipublic_e; Io.quitur enim tanquam in Republiea Platonis, non tanquamin f_eoeRomuli.'"' The same orator likewiseexcuses andblames the philosophers for being too exact in their pre-cept. These preceptors,said he, have stretchedthe linesand limitsof dutiesbeyondtheir naturalboundaries,think-ing thatwe might safelyreformwhenwe had reachedthehighest point of perfection._8 And yet himself stumbledover the same stone,so that he might have said, "Monitissum minoripse meis.''_

8. Another fault laid to the chargeof learnedmen,andarising from the natureof their studies, is, "That they es-teem the preservation,good, and honor of their countrybefore theirown fortunesor safeties." Demosthenessaidwell to theAthenians, "My counselsare not such as tendto aggrandizemyself and diminishyou, but sometimesnotexpedientfor meto give, though alwaysexpedient for youto follow.''` So Seneca, after consecratingthe five yearsof Nero's minorityto the immortalgloryof learnedgov-ernors,held on his h