FRANCIS BACON
"Read not to
contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted ; nor to find talk
and discourse; but to weigh and consider"
Francis Bacon was an English philosopher,statesman, essayist, and scientist.The remarkable essay "Of Studies" was written and published in 1625. He has written 58 essays. Which covers all the aspects of life such as Social, Political, Economical, Religious and Cultural so on. His essays are the manifestation of the well known Shakespearean saying "Brevity is the soul of wit". Of Studies is a typical Baconian essay which exhibits his Latinized vocabulary, Enlightenment and Wisdom, Pithy and Aphoristic expression, Logical coherence, Freshness of thought, Objective precision and Astonishing compactness.
He begins the essay by substantiating his arguments regarding the advantages of studies (learning) in our life. He puts the essential purpose of studies "Studies are serve for delight, for ornament and for ability". He was of the opinion that when we stand alone,reading is sufficient for us to get charm and aesthetic pleasure. Studies make our language much more beautiful and elegant. The more you study the more it helpful us to take the perfect decisions in our professional as well as personal life. An expert man can execute everything in impeccable manner, remember the best things always comes from those who are learned.
Upcoming words echo the epigram 'Too much of anything is good for nothing'.
"To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament is affectation...". He also warns us that the wisdom earned through reading should be examined. Studies give forth directions to human experience, that perfect the nature of human abilities as they are like natural plants, it should get proper caring like shaping and neatening.
Bacon provides a battalion of aphorisms (short and witty expression contains big ideas) in the forthcoming sentences. "Crafty men condemn studies, simple men admire them and wise men use them". he elaborates how different people with different intellectual capacities and interest approach the notion of studying. He brings down certain advises oh how studies should be applied. one should not read a book to simply criticize its argument, nor to accept everything blindly but to consider and explore its contents and sort out the grains of truths from the heap of falsehood.
Further, he argues that there are numerous books but all do not deserve equal attention. some books can be read selectively some should be read quickly but some demand close attention accompanied with deep intellectual involvement.
"Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man and writing an exact man;". Reading configures one's personality while, conversation equips ready and prompted. writing makes one perfect.
our studies imprint to our character. our disposition (nature) is the outcome of our learning and experience. Reading furnishes the mind with ideas and images. Conversation makes it astute and quick while writing serves to define and execute our thoughts, feelings and ideas. Later Bacon demonstrates, how studies determine one's mentality and temperament according to the nature of discipline one chooses to read. "Histories make men wise; Poets witty; Mathematics subtle; Natural Philosophy deep; Moral grave; Logic and Rhetoric able to contend". Bacon affirms that every deformity of the mind can be cured by the proper selection of books.
the study of history contributes to one's intelligence and wisdom, mathematics develop one's mental ability and subtlety of the mind, the study of science blooms one's intellectual depth, natural philosophy builds up the logical mind and finally, rhetoric to one's reasoning ability.
Bacon displays an analogy between physical exercise and intellectual exercise. former strengthens the body on the other hand mental faculties are nourished by reading various subjects.
If a man's mind lacks the power of concentration he should read mathematics, because every step in this process demand close attention. if one suffers from the lack of differentiation, he should dedicate his times to read the writings of Schoolmen (philosophers). The were addressed here as "Splitters of hairs".
so, for every mental defect has its proper remedies in studies. He concludes the essay by remarking that every defect of the mind may have a special receipt and assured remedy.
Francis Bacon was an English philosopher,statesman, essayist, and scientist.The remarkable essay "Of Studies" was written and published in 1625. He has written 58 essays. Which covers all the aspects of life such as Social, Political, Economical, Religious and Cultural so on. His essays are the manifestation of the well known Shakespearean saying "Brevity is the soul of wit". Of Studies is a typical Baconian essay which exhibits his Latinized vocabulary, Enlightenment and Wisdom, Pithy and Aphoristic expression, Logical coherence, Freshness of thought, Objective precision and Astonishing compactness.
He begins the essay by substantiating his arguments regarding the advantages of studies (learning) in our life. He puts the essential purpose of studies "Studies are serve for delight, for ornament and for ability". He was of the opinion that when we stand alone,reading is sufficient for us to get charm and aesthetic pleasure. Studies make our language much more beautiful and elegant. The more you study the more it helpful us to take the perfect decisions in our professional as well as personal life. An expert man can execute everything in impeccable manner, remember the best things always comes from those who are learned.
Upcoming words echo the epigram 'Too much of anything is good for nothing'.
"To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament is affectation...". He also warns us that the wisdom earned through reading should be examined. Studies give forth directions to human experience, that perfect the nature of human abilities as they are like natural plants, it should get proper caring like shaping and neatening.
Bacon provides a battalion of aphorisms (short and witty expression contains big ideas) in the forthcoming sentences. "Crafty men condemn studies, simple men admire them and wise men use them". he elaborates how different people with different intellectual capacities and interest approach the notion of studying. He brings down certain advises oh how studies should be applied. one should not read a book to simply criticize its argument, nor to accept everything blindly but to consider and explore its contents and sort out the grains of truths from the heap of falsehood.
Further, he argues that there are numerous books but all do not deserve equal attention. some books can be read selectively some should be read quickly but some demand close attention accompanied with deep intellectual involvement.
"Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man and writing an exact man;". Reading configures one's personality while, conversation equips ready and prompted. writing makes one perfect.
our studies imprint to our character. our disposition (nature) is the outcome of our learning and experience. Reading furnishes the mind with ideas and images. Conversation makes it astute and quick while writing serves to define and execute our thoughts, feelings and ideas. Later Bacon demonstrates, how studies determine one's mentality and temperament according to the nature of discipline one chooses to read. "Histories make men wise; Poets witty; Mathematics subtle; Natural Philosophy deep; Moral grave; Logic and Rhetoric able to contend". Bacon affirms that every deformity of the mind can be cured by the proper selection of books.
the study of history contributes to one's intelligence and wisdom, mathematics develop one's mental ability and subtlety of the mind, the study of science blooms one's intellectual depth, natural philosophy builds up the logical mind and finally, rhetoric to one's reasoning ability.
Bacon displays an analogy between physical exercise and intellectual exercise. former strengthens the body on the other hand mental faculties are nourished by reading various subjects.
If a man's mind lacks the power of concentration he should read mathematics, because every step in this process demand close attention. if one suffers from the lack of differentiation, he should dedicate his times to read the writings of Schoolmen (philosophers). The were addressed here as "Splitters of hairs".
so, for every mental defect has its proper remedies in studies. He concludes the essay by remarking that every defect of the mind may have a special receipt and assured remedy.
Style of Bacon
Francis Bacon is well known for his style, presentation and amazing structural development in prose. Aphoristic expression and epigrammatic brevity are the most conspicuous characters of Bacon's writing. Aphorism simply means the use of short and direct use of expressions in an engaging manner. His essays are at once acute observations of life and didactic.all his dogmas can be treated as a pearls of wisdom. His sharp and brilliant use of words are brimming with big ideas. his words are just like axioms (proverbs)and the method of framing language is highly catching and effective. his Archaic and refined use of language seemed to be slightly poetic and abounded by analogies. Varieties of imageries and figurative speeches are rampant in his essays.
Other notable essays:
Of Marriage, Of Death, Of Discourse, Of Expense, Of Suspicion, Of Riches, Of Revenge.
Alexander pope made a notable observation about Bacon, he called him
"The wisest , the brightest but the meanest of the mankind".
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