Francis Bacon: biography, philosophical teaching

Who is he: a philosopher or a scientist? Francis Bacon is a great thinker of the Renaissance of England. A versatile person who has changed many positions, has seen several countries and expressed not one hundred clever ideas, which are guided by people and until now. The desire for knowledge and oratorical abilities of Bacon from an early age played a major role in the reformation of the philosophy of that time. In particular, the scholasticism and teachings of Aristotle, which were based on cultural and spiritual values, were refuted by the empiricist Francis in the name of science. Bacon argued that only scientific and technological progress can raise civilization and thereby enrich mankind spiritually.

Francis Bacon - biography of the politician

Bacon was born in London on January 22, 1561, in an organized English family. His father served at the court of Elizabeth I as the guardian of the royal press. And the mother was the daughter of Anthony Cook, who brought up King Edward VI. An educated woman, who knows ancient Greek and Latin, instilled in young Francis a love for knowledge. He grew up smart and intelligent boy, who is very interested in science.

At the age of 12, Bacon enrolled at Cambridge University. After his graduation, the philosopher travels a lot. The political, cultural and social life of France, Spain, Poland, Denmark, Germany and Sweden left their imprint in the notes on the state of Europe, written by the thinker. After the death of his father, Bacon returned to his homeland.

Francis made his political career when King Jacob I ascended the English throne. The philosopher was also the Attorney General (1612), the Guardian of the Press (1617), and the Lord Chancellor (1618). However, the rapid takeoff ended in a rapid fall.

Following the path of life

In 1621, Bacon was accused by the king of bribery, imprisoned (admittedly for two days) and pardoned. After that, Francis's career as a politician ended. All subsequent years of his life he was engaged in science and experiments. The philosopher died in 1626 from a cold.

Bacon is the author of many works, among which:

• "Experiments and instructions" - 1597 - the first edition. The book was subsequently supplemented and reprinted many times. The work consists of short essays and essays, where the thinker talks about politics and morality.
• "On the Significance and Success of Knowledge, Divine and Human" - 1605.
• "On the wisdom of the ancients" - 1609.
• Descriptions of intellectuals of the world.
• "On a high position," in which the author told about the advantages and disadvantages of high ranks. "It is difficult to resist on a high place, but there is no way back, except for a fall or, at least, a decline ...".
• "New Organon" - 1620 - a cult book of that time, devoted to the classification of science, its methods and techniques.
• "On the dignity and augmentation of the sciences" is the first part of the "Great Restoration of Sciences", the most voluminous work of Bacon.

A ghostly utopia or a look into the future?

Francis Bacon. "New Atlantis." Two terms in philosophy, which can be considered synonymous. The work though remained unfinished, but absorbed the whole outlook of its author.

"New Atlantis" was published in 1627. Bacon moves the reader to a distant island, where an ideal civilization flourishes. All thanks to scientific and technical achievements, unprecedented at that time. Bacon seemed to look hundreds of years into the future, because in Atlantis you can learn about the microscope, the synthesis of living beings, and also about curing all diseases. In addition, it has descriptions of different, not yet open, sound and hearing aids.

The island is run by a society that unites the country's main sages. And if the predecessors of Bacon touched on the problems of communism and socialism, then this work is completely technocratic in nature.

A look at life through the eyes of a philosopher

The founder of the thinking of modern times is truly Francis Bacon. Philosophy of the thinker refutes the scholastic teachings and puts science and knowledge first. Having learned the laws of nature and turning them to oneself for good, a person is able not only to gain power, but also to grow spiritually.

Francis noted that all the discoveries were made by chance, because few people owned scientific methods and techniques. Bacon first attempted to classify science on the basis of the properties of the mind: memory is history, imagination is poetry, reason is philosophy.

The main thing on the path to knowledge must be an inductive method and experience. All research should begin with observations, not theory. Bacon believes that only the experiment will be successful, for which constantly changing conditions, time and space, as well as circumstances. Matter must be in motion all the time.

Francis Bacon. Empiricism

The scientist and his philosophy ultimately led to the emergence of such a concept as "empiricism": cognition lies through experience. Only having enough knowledge and experience, you can count on the results in your activities.

Bacon identifies several ways of obtaining knowledge:

• "Path of the spider" - knowledge is obtained from pure reason, in a rational way. In other words, the web is woven from thoughts. Specific factors are not taken into account.
• "The way of an ant" - knowledge is gained through experience. Attention is focused only on the collection of facts and evidence. However, the essence remains incomprehensible.
• "The way of the bee" is an ideal way that combines good qualities and a spider and an ant, but at the same time is devoid of their shortcomings. Following this path, all the facts and evidence must be passed through the prism of your thinking, through your mind. And only then will truth reveal itself.

Obstacles to knowledge

It is not always easy to learn new things. Bacon in his teachings speaks of obstacles-ghosts. They prevent you from adjusting your mind and thoughts. There are obstacles that are congenital and acquired.

Congenital: "ghosts of the genus" and "ghosts of the cave" - so they are classified by the philosopher himself. "Ghosts of the Kind" - the culture of a man hinders knowledge. "Ghosts of the cave" - the knowledge is hampered by the influence of specific people.

Acquired: "ghosts of the market" and "ghosts of the theater." The first means misuse of words and definitions. The person perceives everything literally, and this prevents correct thinking. The second obstacle is the influence on the process of knowledge of the existing philosophy. Only having broken away from the old one can comprehend the new. Based on the old experience, letting it through your thoughts, people are able to achieve success.

Great minds do not die

Some great people - after centuries - spawn others. Bacon Francis is an expressionist artist of our time, as well as a distant descendant of the philosopher-thinker.

Francis the artist revered the works of his ancestor, he did his best to follow his instructions left in the "smart" books. Francis Bacon, whose biography ended not long ago, in 1992, had a great influence on the world. And when the philosopher realized it in words, then his distant grandson - with colors.

For his non-traditional orientation, Francis Jr. was driven out of the house. Wandering through France and Germany, he successfully got to the exhibition of paintings by Picasso in 1927. She had a huge impact on the guy. Bacon returns to his native London, where he acquires a small garage-workshop and begins to create.

Francis Bacon is considered one of the darkest artists of our time. His paintings are a vivid proof of this. Blurred, desperate faces and silhouettes oppress, but at the same time make you think about the meaning of life. After all, in each person are hidden such blurred faces and roles that he uses for different occasions.

Despite its gloom, the paintings are very popular. A great connoisseur of Bacon's art is Roman Abramovich. At the auction, he bought the canvas "Landmark of the canonical XX century" worth 86.3 million dollars!

Words of the thinker

Philosophy is the eternal science of eternal values. Everyone who is able to think a little is a "little" philosopher. Bacon wrote down his thoughts always and everywhere. And a lot of his quotes people use every day. Bacon has surpassed even the greatness of Shakespeare. So his contemporaries thought.

Francis Bacon. Quotations for a note:

• Stumbling along a straight road will get ahead of the runner, who lost his way.
• There is little friendship in the world - and least of all among equals.
• There is nothing more terrible than fear itself.
• The most terrible loneliness is not to have true friends.
• Sneakiness is the refuge of the weak.
• In the dark, all the colors are the same.
• Hope - good breakfast, but a bad dinner.
• Good is that which is useful to man, to mankind.

Knowledge is power

Power is knowledge. Only by abstracting from all and everything, by letting your experience and experience of your predecessors through your own mind, can understand the truth. It is not enough to be a theorist, you need to become a practitioner! Do not be afraid of criticism and condemnation. And who knows, maybe the biggest discovery is yours!