Sir Francis Bacon
Sir Francis Bacon
Sir Francis Bacon was born January 22, 1561. He died April 9,
1626. He was an English essayist, lawyer, statesman, and philosopher . He had a major influence on the philosophy of science. When he was 12 years old, he began studies at Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1576 he entered Gray 's Inn to pursue a career in law. He was first elected in 1584.
Bacon 's opposition to royal tax measures would probably have brought an end to his political advancement, but he had the support of the Earl of Essex, whose prosecution for treason he later managed. He was knighted in 1603 after the succession of James I. Bacon and he became solicitor-general in 1609, attorney-general in 1613, lord keeper of the great seal in 1617, and lord chancellor in 1618; he was also created Baron of Verulam I 1618, and Viscount St. Albans in 1621. Bacon retained James 's favor by steadfast defense of royal prerogative, but in 1621 he was found guilty of accepting bribes and was removed from his office. Retiring to Gorhambury, he devoted himself to writing and scientific work.
Philosophically, Bacon wrote marks such as the Instauratio Magna (Great
Restoration), setting forth his concepts for the restoration of humankind to mastery over nature. It was intended to contain six parts: first a classification of sciences; second a new inductive logic; third a gathering of empirical and experimental facts; fourth examples to show the effectiveness of his new approach; fifth generalization derivable from natural history; and a new philosophy that would be a complete science of nature.
Bacon completed only two parts, however, the Advancement of Learning in
1605, later expanded as De Dignitate et Augmentis Scientiarum (On the Dignity and Growth of Sciences, 1620); and the Novum Organum (The New Organon, 1620), which was to replace Aristotle 's Organon. Sciences were under the general headings of history, poetry, and philosophy. Their culmination was an inductive
Sir Francis Bacon was born January 22, 1561. He died April 9,
1626. He was an English essayist, lawyer, statesman, and philosopher . He had a major influence on the philosophy of science. When he was 12 years old, he began studies at Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1576 he entered Gray 's Inn to pursue a career in law. He was first elected in 1584.
Bacon 's opposition to royal tax measures would probably have brought an end to his political advancement, but he had the support of the Earl of Essex, whose prosecution for treason he later managed. He was knighted in 1603 after the succession of James I. Bacon and he became solicitor-general in 1609, attorney-general in 1613, lord keeper of the great seal in 1617, and lord chancellor in 1618; he was also created Baron of Verulam I 1618, and Viscount St. Albans in 1621. Bacon retained James 's favor by steadfast defense of royal prerogative, but in 1621 he was found guilty of accepting bribes and was removed from his office. Retiring to Gorhambury, he devoted himself to writing and scientific work.
Philosophically, Bacon wrote marks such as the Instauratio Magna (Great
Restoration), setting forth his concepts for the restoration of humankind to mastery over nature. It was intended to contain six parts: first a classification of sciences; second a new inductive logic; third a gathering of empirical and experimental facts; fourth examples to show the effectiveness of his new approach; fifth generalization derivable from natural history; and a new philosophy that would be a complete science of nature.
Bacon completed only two parts, however, the Advancement of Learning in
1605, later expanded as De Dignitate et Augmentis Scientiarum (On the Dignity and Growth of Sciences, 1620); and the Novum Organum (The New Organon, 1620), which was to replace Aristotle 's Organon. Sciences were under the general headings of history, poetry, and philosophy. Their culmination was an inductive
Bibliography: World Book Encyclopedia, Chicago: Field Enterprises Educational Corporation, 1962. Volume B Pp. 18. Wegman, Richard J., Medical and Health Encyclopedia, New York: Ferguson Publishing Company, 1992, Pp. 491-492.