Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, jurist, orator, and author. He served both as Attorney General and as Lord Chancellor of England becoming a leading philosophical advocate and practitioner of the scientific method during the scientific revolution.
Biographical Overview
Born in England, 1561-1626
Philosopher, statesman, scientist, jurist, orator, and author; served both as Attorney General and as Lord Chancellor of England. Founder of the scientific method known as empiricism and co-founder of The Royal Society.
Worldview
A biblical worldview perspective opened the foundation and freedom for Bacon to incorporate the scientific method of inquiry into the study of the laws of nature, His worldview is notable from what he said –
“God of heaven and earth had vouchsafed the grace to know the works of Creation… to discern between divine miracles, works of nature, works of art, and impostures and illusions of all sorts.”
“It is true, that a little philosophy inclineth man’s mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men’s minds about to religion; for while the mind of man looketh upon second causes scattered, it may sometimes rest in them, and go no further; but when it beholdeth the chain of them confederate, and linked together, it must needs fly to Providence and Deity.”
“They that deny a God destroy man’s nobility; for certainly man is of kin to the beasts in his body; and, if he be not of kin to God by his spirit, he is a base and ignoble creature.”
“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”
“If we have any humility towards the Creator; if we have any reverence or esteem of his works; if we have any charity towards men, or any desire of relieving their miseries and necessities; if we have any love for natural truths; any aversion to darkness, any desire of purifying the understanding, we must destroy these idols, which have led experience captive, and childishly triumphed over the works of God; and now at length condescend, with due submission and veneration, to approach and peruse the volume of the creation; dwell some time upon it, and bringing to the work a mind well purged of opinions, idols, and false notions, converse familiarly therein.”
“…all knowledge appeareth to be a plant of God’s own planting, so it may seem the spreading and flourishing or at least the bearing and fructifying of this plant, by a providence of God, nay not only by a general providence but by a special prophecy, was appointed to this autumn of the world: for to my understanding it is not violent to the letter, and safe now after the event, so to interpret that place in the prophecy of Daniel where speaking of the latter times it is said, ‘many shall pass to and fro, and science shall be increased’ [Daniel 12:4]; as if the opening of the world by navigation and commerce and the further discovery of knowledge should meet in one time or age.”
“There are two books laid before us to study, to prevent our falling into error; first the volume of scriptures, which reveal the will of God; then the volume of Creatures [nature], which express His power.”
“There never was found, in any age of the world, either philosophy, sect, or religion, or law, or discipline, which did so highly exalt the good of the community, and increase private and particular good as the holy Christian faith. Hence, it clearly appears that it was a one and the same God that gave the Christian law to men, who gave the laws of nature to the creatures.”
“I believe that the Word of God, whereby His will is revealed, continued in revelation and tradition with Moses; and that the Scriptures were from Moses’ time to the time of the Apostles and Evangelists; in whose ages, after the coming of the Holy Ghost, the teacher of all truth the book of the Scriptures was shut and closed, so as to receive no new addition, and the Church hath no power after the Scriptures to teach or command anything contrary to the written word.”
“I believe that Jesus, the Lord, became flesh a sacrificer and a sacrifice for sin; a satisfaction and price paid to the justice of God; a meriter of Glory and Kingdom; a pattern of all righteousness; a preacher of the Word, which Himself was; a finisher of the ceremonies; a cornerstone to remove the separation between Jew and Gentile; an intercessor for the Church; a Lord of nature in his miracles; a conqueror of death and the power of darkness in His resurrection; and that He fulfilled the whole counsel of God; performing all His sacred offices, and anointing on earth; accomplishing the whole work of the redemption and restitution of man to a state superior to the angels, whereas the state of man by creation was inferior; and reconciled and established all things according to the eternal will of the Father.”
In History of Life and Death, a treatise on medicine, Bacon states in the Preface his intent of his work would contribute to the common good, and that through it the physicians would become “… instruments and dispensers of God’s power and mercy in prolonging and renewing the life of man.”
“… though the life of man be nothing else but a mass and accumulation of sins and sorrows, and they that look for an eternal life set but light by a temporary: yet the continuation of works of charity ought not to be contemned, even by Christians”.
“God of heaven and earth had vouchsafed the grace to know the works of Creation… to discern between divine miracles, works of nature, works of art, and impostures and illusions of all sorts.”
“We have certain hymns and services, which we say daily, of Lord and thanks to God for His marvelous works; and some forms of prayer, imploring His aid and blessing for the illumination of our labors, and the turning of them into good and holy uses”.
“The inquiry, knowledge, and belief of truth is the sovereign good of human nature”,
“The summary law of nature, that impulse of desire impressed by God upon the primary particles of matter which makes them come together, and which by repetition and multiplication produces all the variety of nature… a thing which mortal thought may glance at, but can hardly take in.”
In his Will, Bacon wrote –
“I bequeath my soul to God… My body to be buried obscurely. For my name and memory, I leave it to men’s charitable speeches, and to foreign nations, and the next age.”
