Francis Bacon of Verulam, tr. by J. Oxenford |
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Common terms and phrases
Acatalepsia according to Bacon affinity analogies ancient antiquity appears Aristotelian Aristotle atheism atque Augm Augmentis autem axioms Baconian philosophy Bayle become Cæsar character consists contradiction copy Democritus Descartes Divine dominion Encyclopædia enim etiam experience expression faith final causes Greek Hence homines human mind human understanding ideas Idola Fori Idola Theatri Idola Tribus idols induction Instauratio Instauratio Magna intellectual interpretation of nature invention Itaque JOSEPH DE MAISTRE knowledge latter Leibnitz logical Maistre means metaphysics method mind of Bacon moral myths natural philosophy natural science natural theology Naturalis negative instances neque notions Novum Organum opposed opposition peculiar philo physical Plato poetical poetry point of view political practical prerogative instances quæ quam quod reason regard religion render respect rience Roman says Bacon scholasticism scientiarum scientific seeks sense Shakspeare sophy Spinoza spirit sunt superstition syllogism things thought tion true truth unity whole words
Popular passages
Page 418 - For words are wise men's counters, they do but reckon by them; but they are the money of fools, that value them by the authority of an Aristotle, a Cicero, or a Thomas, or any other doctor whatsoever, if but a man.
Page 481 - When we run over libraries, persuaded of these principles, what havoc must we make? If we take in our hand any volume; of divinity or school metaphysics, for instance; let us ask, Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quantity or number? No. Does it contain any experimental reasoning concerning matter of fact and existence? No. Commit it then to the flames: For it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion.
Page 305 - ... accused of atheism doth most demonstrate religion, that is, the school of Leucippus and Democritus and Epicurus ; for it is a thousand times more credible that four mutable elements, and one immutable fifth essence, duly and eternally placed need no God, than that an army of infinite small portions, or seeds unplaced, should have produced this order and beauty without a Divine marshal.
Page 65 - The second is of those who labour to extend the power of their country and its dominion among men. This certainly has more dignity, though not less covetousness. But if a man endeavour to establish and extend the power and dominion of the human race itself over the universe...
Page 184 - And therefore it was ever thought to have some participation of divineness, because it doth raise and erect the mind, by submitting the shows of things to the desires of the mind ; whereas reason doth buckle and bow the mind unto the nature of things.
Page 459 - I see this cherry, I feel it, I taste it : and I am sure nothing cannot be seen, or felt, or tasted : it is therefore real. Take away the sensations of softness, moisture, redness, tartness, and you take away the cherry. Since it is not a being distinct from sensations ; a cherry, I say, is nothing but a congeries of sensible impressions, or ideas perceived by various senses...
Page 318 - Atheism leaves a man to sense, to philosophy, to natural piety, to laws, to reputation; all which may be guides to an outward moral virtue, though religion were not: but superstition dismounts all these, and erecteth an absolute monarchy in the minds of men. Therefore atheism did never perturb states; for it makes men wary of themselves, as looking no further: and we see the times inclined to atheism, as the time of Augustus Caesar, were civil times. But superstition hath been the confusion of many...
Page 34 - I confess that I have as vast contemplative ends, as I have moderate civil ends: for I have taken all knowledge to be my province; and if I could purge it of two sorts of rovers, whereof the one with frivolous disputations, confutations, and verbosities; the other with blind experiments and auricular traditions and impostures...
Page 320 - There is a superstition in avoiding superstition, when men think to do best if they go furthest from the superstition formerly received. Therefore care would be had that, as it fareth in ill purgings, the good be not taken away with the bad, which commonly is done when the people is the reformer.
Page 317 - I had rather a great deal men should say there was no such man at all as Plutarch, than that they should say there was one Plutarch that would eat his children as soon as they were born;" as the poets speak of Saturn.