Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
Philosopher
Specialty Scientific revolution
Born Jan. 22, 1561
Strand, London, England
Died Apr. 9, 1626 (at age 65)
Highgate, Middlesex, England
Nationality English
Francis Bacon was a British philosopher, scientist, and a lawyer. Having written a
number of highly influential works on religion, law, state, science and politics, he was
one of the early pioneers of the scientific methodology who created “empiricism” and
motivated the scientific revolution.
Bacon’s Early Years

Francis Bacon was born in 1561 to Nicolas Bacon and Anne Cooke Bacon. His father was
a popular politician and a Lord Keeper of the Seal. His mother, Anne Bacon, was his
father’s second wife. Bacon’s mother was a sister-in-law to Lord Burghley.
Bacon was homeschooled in his younger years. The younger of Nicholas Bacon and
Anne Cook’s two sons, Francis Bacon entered Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1573, when
he was 11 years of age. He finished his course of study at the school in 1575. In 1576, he
went to Gray’s Inn to study law. However, he found the curriculum at the school to be
too old-fashioned.
Bacon’s Educational Years
One year after joining with Gray’s Inn, Bacon dropped out of school to work at the
learning institution. He also traveled to France as a part of the British ambassador’s
suite. Two years later, he was forced to return to England when his father died. Bacon
was 18 years old when his father passed away in 1576, leaving him broke. He turned to
his uncle for help in finding a well-paying job as a governor, but his uncle let him down.
Still a teen, Bacon was struggling to find a means of earning a living. After working for a
while, he returned to Gray’s Inn to finish his education. By 1582, he was given the
position of an outer barrister. While his political career was successful, Bacon had other
philosophical and political ambitions. He joined politics but he suffered a major setback
because of his objections to raise the military budget, a stand that displeased Queen
Elizabeth.
Bacon and Politics
Francis Bacon served as a member of parliament for

almost 40 years, during which time he was active in politics, royal court, and law. In
1603, three years before he married his fiancé, Alice Barnham, he was knighted upon
James I’s ascension to the British throne. Bacon continued to work his way up fast,
attaining solicitor general in 1607 and attorney six years later. His career peaked in 1616
when he joined the Privy Council. A year later, he became Lord Keeper of the Great Seal,
a position his father held before he died. In 1618, he was appointed Lord Chancellor, one
of England’s highest political seats.
Bacon’s Political Career Falls
In 1621, Bacon was accused of graft. It is believed that Bacon was set up by his political
enemies, and was used as a scapegoat by his opponents. He was charged for accepting
bribes and he pleaded guilty to the charges. He was fined 40,000 pounds and sentenced.
Fortunately, his fine was lifted and his sentence was reduced. Four days after
imprisonment, he walked to freedom at the expense of his reputation as well as his long-
standing place in Parliament.
Life after Politics
Bacon retired from politics after the collapse of his political career. He was now able to
focus on philosophy. Since childhood, Bacon was determined to transform the face of
philosophy. He created a new outline for sciences with the focus on empirical scientific
methodologies – methodologies that largely depend on touchable proof.
Unlike many philosophers, his approach placed a lot of emphasis on interaction and
experimentation. His new scientific approach entailed collecting data, analyzing it
carefully, and carrying out experiments to observe the truths of nature in an organized
manner.
Bacon’s Greatest Achievements
Francis Bacon is known as the father of contemporary science. He initiated a huge

reformation of each and every process of knowledge. As an inventor of empiricism, he
made a set of inductive and empirical methods for setting off scientific inquiry,
commonly known now as the Baconian method.
Bacon’s call for a plotted process of addressing issues with an empiricist naturalistic way
had a big impact on theoretical and rhetorical framework for science. Also, he served as
a philosophical inspiration behind the development of the Industrial Age.
The Greatest Books
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon (1561–1626) was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, jurist, orator, and
author. He served both as Attorney General and as Lord Chancellor of England. Bacon has been
called the father of empiricism. His works argued for the possibility of scientific knowledge
based only upon inductive reasoning and careful observation of events in nature. Most
importantly, he advocated for a scientific method that was free from the logical fallacies and
personal biases that affected the science of the time. Bacon's writings contributed to the
development of the scientific method and to the modern scientific inquiry.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on
this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
1. 1. Essays
This collection is a seminal work of English literature, comprising a series of essays that
delve into various subjects, ranging from politics and religion to love and truth. Written
in the early 17th century, the essays are celebrated for their concise wisdom, rhetorical
brilliance, and the author's deep insights into human nature and the complexities of life.
The author, a philosopher, statesman, and scientist, employs a didactic style, offering
practical advice and reflections on morality and ethics, which have remained relevant
through the ages. The work is not only a reflection of the author's vast intellect and
observational prowess but also serves as a valuable philosophical guide, illuminating the
human condition and the societal norms of his time.
The 1711th Greatest Book of All Time

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2. 2. Novum Organum
This book is a philosophical work that presents a new method of acquiring knowledge
and understanding the natural world, rejecting the traditional methods of the time. The
author argues that human understanding is hindered by certain 'idols' or false notions, and
proposes an inductive, experimental method, known as the 'Baconian method', which
involves gathering data, making observations, and conducting experiments to understand
the world. This method is seen as a precursor to the modern scientific method.

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3. 3. New Atlantis
"New Atlantis" is a utopian novel that explores the fictional island of Bensalem,
discovered by a crew of shipwrecked Europeans. The island is home to a society where
scientific research and discovery is highly valued, and advancements in technology and
science have led to a utopian lifestyle for its inhabitants. The novel explores themes of
science, religion, and politics, and presents a vision of an ideal society achieved through
knowledge and learning.

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4. 4. Advancement Of Learning
"Advancement of Learning" is a philosophical treatise that explores the limitations and

advancements in various fields of learning and knowledge. The work advocates for the
empirical approach to scientific inquiry, emphasizing observation and experimentation as
the core methods for gaining true understanding. The author critiques the prevailing
scholastic education system, which he finds overly reliant on tradition and the authority
of ancient texts. He proposes a new methodological framework for learning, which later
influenced the development of the scientific method. This treatise is a foundational text in
the philosophy of science, promoting the idea that knowledge should progress through
inductive reasoning and the systematic collection of facts.

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Francis Bacon

Specialty Scientific revolution

Born Jan. 22, 1561

Strand, London, England

Died Apr. 9, 1626 (at age 65)

Highgate, Middlesex, England

Bacon’s Early Years

Bacon’s Educational Years

Bacon and Politics

Francis Bacon served as a member of parliament for

Bacon’s Political Career Falls

Life after Politics

Bacon’s Greatest Achievements

Francis Bacon is known as the father of contemporary science. He initiated a huge

The 1711th Greatest Book of All Time

The 2078th Greatest Book of All Time

The 3275th Greatest Book of All Time

"Advancement of Learning" is a philosophical treatise that explores the limitations and

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