An erudite investigation into the work of the man regarded as the
founder of the Scientific Revolution, this volume attempts to tie
together Bacon's many writings, not only on science, but also on
language, morals, politics, rhetoric, law, and history. From the
outset, Zagorin, a professor of history emeritus at the University
of Rochester, clearly states that it is not his intention to write
a biography of Bacon, who has been the subject of numerous and
recent biographies. However, he does provide a tantalizing glimpse
of Bacon's personal life, as well as his flawed character. Much to
his credit, Zagorin demythologizes Bacon by detailing his political
ambitions and ruthless opportunism. Yet the glimpse is all too
brief, and while this biographical introduction informs the rest of
the book, Zagorin's later readings of Bacon would have benefited
from a more integrated approach toward his life and his work. The
bulk of the book is a thorough interpretation of that work and its
impact. Zagorin illustrates in a sound and convincing manner how
Bacon's philosophy and theory of science had a far-reaching effect
on the growth of science. While Bacon made no scientific
discoveries of his own, he did believe that science provided
humankind with the instrument to master nature. Finally, at the end
of the book, the author delves into Bacon's less known works in the
humanities, proving that in these fields, too, Bacon was an
original and often brilliant thinker. As a legal scholar, for
instance, Bacon sought to devise a universal system that went
beyond English common law. Though lucidly written, this book still
requires a knowledge of Bacon's work as formidable as Zagorin's. A
valuable work for the serious Bacon scholar, but not for the
layperson. (Kirkus Reviews)
Francis Bacon (1561-1626), commonly regarded as one of the
founders of the Scientific Revolution, exerted a powerful influence
on the intellectual development of the modern world. He also led a
remarkably varied and dramatic life as a philosopher, writer,
lawyer, courtier, and statesman. Although there has been much
recent scholarship on individual aspects of Bacon's career, Perez
Zagorin's is the first work in many years to present a
comprehensive account of the entire sweep of his thought and its
enduring influence. Combining keen scholarly and psychological
insights, Zagorin reveals Bacon as a man of genius, deep paradoxes,
and pronounced flaws.
The book begins by sketching Bacon's complex personality and
troubled public career. Zagorin shows that, despite his idealistic
philosophy and rare intellectual gifts, Bacon's political life was
marked by continual careerism in his efforts to achieve
advancement. He follows Bacon's rise at court and describes his
removal from his office as England's highest judge for taking
bribes. Zagorin then examines Bacon's philosophy and theory of
science in connection with his project for the promotion of
scientific progress, which he called "The Great Instauration." He
shows how Bacon's critical empiricism and attempt to develop a new
method of discovery made a seminal contribution to the growth of
science. He demonstrates Bacon's historic importance as a prophetic
thinker, who, at the edge of the modern era, predicted that science
would be used to prolong life, cure diseases, invent new materials,
and create new weapons of destruction. Finally, the book examines
Bacon's writings on such subjects as morals, politics, language,
rhetoric, law, and history. Zagorin shows that Bacon was one of the
great legal theorists of his day, an influential philosopher of
language, and a penetrating historian.
Clearly and beautifully written, the book brings out the
richness, scope, and greatness of Bacon's work and draws together
the many, colorful threads of an extraordinarily brilliant and
many-sided mind.
General
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