New Atlantis E-Book

Francis Bacon

• Herausgeber: DigiCat
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Francis Bacon's "New Atlantis" presents a visionary narrative that intricately blends the realms of philosophy, science, and utopian ideals. Set in a mythical island, the text unfolds a society that embodies Bacon's aspirations for a progressive future grounded in empirical knowledge and communal well-being. The work, characterized by its allegorical style and rich, descriptive prose, reflects the intellectual currents of the early 17th century, especially the burgeoning scientific revolution, positioning itself as a cornerstone of early modern thought. Bacon's portrayal of the scientific institution, Salomon's House, serves as a blueprint for the application of scientific inquiry to societal advancement, making the work not only a narrative but a profound treatise on the relationship between knowledge and human progress. Francis Bacon, an eminent philosopher, statesman, and scientist, was deeply influenced by the tumultuous political and scientific transformations of his era. His commitment to the empirical method and advocacy for a new system of knowledge were pivotal in shaping Enlightenment thought. This work reflects Bacon's vision of a society where knowledge is harnessed for the common good, stemming from his belief in the transformative power of science and inquiry, informed by both his personal experiences and the intellectual milieu of his time. Readers seeking a profound exploration of the interplay between knowledge, power, and utopian ideals will find "New Atlantis" not just a fascinating narrative but a foundational text that challenges them to reconsider the purpose of science in society. Bacon's insights remain strikingly relevant, inviting contemporary readers to ponder the responsibilities that accompany the pursuit of knowledge and the potential for human innovation to reshape our world.

Leseprobe

Francis Bacon

New Atlantis

 

EAN 8596547045229

DigiCat, 2022 Contact: [email protected]

Table of Contents

Cover

Titlepage

Text

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

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Bacon's literary executor, Dr. Rowley, published "The New Atlantis" in 1627, the year after the author's death. It seems to have been written about 1623, during that period of literary activity which followed Bacon's political fall. None of Bacon's writings gives in short apace so vivid a picture of his tastes and aspirations as this fragment of the plan of an ideal commonwealth. The generosity and enlightenment, the dignity and splendor, the piety and public spirit, of the inhabitants of Bensalem represent the ideal qualities which Bacon the statesman desired rather than hoped to see characteristic of his own country; and in Solomon's House we have Bacon the scientist indulging without restriction his prophetic vision of the future of human knowledge. No reader acquainted in any degree with the processes and results of modern scientific inquiry can fail to be struck by the numerous approximations made by Bacon's imagination to the actual achievements of modern times. The plan and organization of his great college lay down the main lines of the modern research university; and both in pure and applied science he anticipates a strikingly large number of recent inventions and discoveries. In still another way is "The New Atlantis" typical of Bacon's attitude. In spite of the enthusiastic and broad-minded schemes he laid down for the pursuit of truth, Bacon always had an eye to utility. The advancement of science which he sought was conceived by him as a means to a practical end the increase of man's control over nature, and the comfort and convenience of humanity. For pure metaphysics, or any form of abstract thinking that yielded no "fruit," he had little interest; and this leaning to the useful is shown in the practical applications of the discoveries made by the scholars of Solomon's House. Nor does the interest of the work stop here. It contains much, both in its political and in its scientific ideals, that we have as yet by no means achieved, but which contain valuable elements of suggestion and stimulus for the future.

THE NEW ATLANTIS

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