bacon worldly wisdom
BACON’s WORDLY WISDOM
BACON is veritably one of literary and intellectual giants in the history of English literature .He possessed a versatile genius. He belonged to age of discovery and divulgation .He wrote as a scientist, as a philosopher and as a religious preacher. Most hotly discussed aspect of Bacon’s writings especially his essays is his philosophy which revolves around the art of success in this world. He points man to the part he should play on the stage of social life. His essay has been rightly subtitled as “Counsels Civil and Moral”. In this regard Emile Legouis observes, “No one has ever produced a greater number of closely packed and striking formula, loaded with practical wisdom”
.Before discussing various aspects of philosophy preached by Bacon in his essays let us have a glimpse of the age in which Bacon lived and wrote. Undoubtedly Bacon, like Chaucer and Marlowe, reflects and represents his age. As Tillotson remarks, “Bacon, the man was the product of the renaissance”. As we know that the dawn of renaissance injected into people a new interest in this world and the affairs of this world. The star- gazers of the past were replaced by the earth-gazers, the theocentric by the homocentric, world-denouncers by world-explorers. The multi-sided movement and phenomenon of Renaissance made man conscious of himself and universe around him. As a result of this new awareness, man got interested in this world instead of world hereafter. Tamburlaine, the earth-shaker, Faustus, the insatiable over-reacher and Barbas, the gold worshipper, are the true epitomes of the worldliness infused by Renaissance into the men of that time.
In order to meet the demands of the age, Bacon produced most utilitarian formulae which are highly handy for the business of world for ever and ever. As Legouis asserts, “The essays are a compendium of percepts, or rather of reflections which are true of all men, for all time and in all places”.
BACON is veritably one of literary and intellectual giants in the history of English literature .He possessed a versatile genius. He belonged to age of discovery and divulgation .He wrote as a scientist, as a philosopher and as a religious preacher. Most hotly discussed aspect of Bacon’s writings especially his essays is his philosophy which revolves around the art of success in this world. He points man to the part he should play on the stage of social life. His essay has been rightly subtitled as “Counsels Civil and Moral”. In this regard Emile Legouis observes, “No one has ever produced a greater number of closely packed and striking formula, loaded with practical wisdom”
.Before discussing various aspects of philosophy preached by Bacon in his essays let us have a glimpse of the age in which Bacon lived and wrote. Undoubtedly Bacon, like Chaucer and Marlowe, reflects and represents his age. As Tillotson remarks, “Bacon, the man was the product of the renaissance”. As we know that the dawn of renaissance injected into people a new interest in this world and the affairs of this world. The star- gazers of the past were replaced by the earth-gazers, the theocentric by the homocentric, world-denouncers by world-explorers. The multi-sided movement and phenomenon of Renaissance made man conscious of himself and universe around him. As a result of this new awareness, man got interested in this world instead of world hereafter. Tamburlaine, the earth-shaker, Faustus, the insatiable over-reacher and Barbas, the gold worshipper, are the true epitomes of the worldliness infused by Renaissance into the men of that time.
In order to meet the demands of the age, Bacon produced most utilitarian formulae which are highly handy for the business of world for ever and ever. As Legouis asserts, “The essays are a compendium of percepts, or rather of reflections which are true of all men, for all time and in all places”.