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progress in science； the way to it being indicated by him pre…
eminently？
The whole thing consists in this； that Bacon pointed out the right
road to truth；as a board where two roads meet or diverge
indicates the one which is to be followed。 He did not make a
system； like Descartes or Spinoza or Newton： he showed the way to
make it on sound principles。 〃He laid down a systematic analysis
and arrangement of inductive evidence。〃 The syllogism； the great
instrument used by Aristotle and the Schoolmen； 〃is； from its very
nature； incompetent to prove the ultimate premises from which it
proceeds； and when the truth of these remains doubtful； we can
place no confidence in the conclusions drawn from them。〃 Hence；
the first step in the reform of science is to review its ultimate
principles； and the first condition of a scientific method is that
it shall be competent to conduct such an inquiry； and this method
is applicable； not to physical science merely； but to the whole
realm of knowledge。 This； of course； includes poetry； art；
intellectual philosophy； and theology； as well as geology and
chemistry。
And it is this breadth of inquirydirected to subjective as well
as objective knowledgewhich made Bacon so great a benefactor。
The defect in Macaulay's criticism is that he makes Bacon
interested in mere outward phenomena； or matters of practical
utility；a worldly utilitarian of whom Epicureans may be proud。
In reality he soared to the realm of Plato as well as of Aristotle。
Take； for instance； his Idola Mentis Humanae； or 〃Phantoms of the
Human Mind；〃 which compose the best…known part of the 〃Novum
Organum。〃 〃The Idols of the Tribe〃 would show the folly of
attempting to penetrate further than the limits of the human
faculties permit； as also 〃the liability of the intellect to be
warped by the will and affections； and the like。〃 The 〃Idols of
the Den〃 have reference to 〃the tendency to notice differences
rather than resemblances； or resemblances rather than differences；
in the attachment to antiquity or novelty； in the partiality to
minute or comprehensive investigations。〃 〃The Idols of the Market…
Place〃 have reference to the tendency to confound words with
things； which has ever marked controversialists in their learned
disputatious。 In what he here says about the necessity for
accurate definitions； he reminds us of Socrates rather than a
modern scientist； this necessity for accuracy applies to
metaphysics as much as it does to physics。 〃The Idols of the
Theatre〃 have reference to perverse laws of demonstration which are
the strongholds of error。 This school deals in speculations and
experiments confined to a narrow compass； like those of the
alchemists；too imperfect to elicit the light which should guide。
Bacon having completed his discussion of the Idola； then proceeds；
to point out the weakness of the old philosophies； which produced
leaves rather than fruit； and were stationary in their character。
Here he would seem to lean towards utilitarianism； were it not that
he is as severe on men of experiment as on men of dogma。 〃The men
of experiment are；〃 says he； 〃like ants；they only collect and
use； the reasoners resemble spiders； who make cobwebs out of their
own substance。 But the bee takes a middle course； it gathers the
material from the flowers； but digests it by a power of its own。 。 。 。
So true philosophy neither chiefly relies on the powers of the
mind； nor takes the matter which it gathers and lays it up in the
memory； whole as it finds it； but lays it up in the understanding；
to be transformed and digested。〃 Here he simply points out the
laws by which true knowledge is to be attained。 He does not extol
physical science alone； though doubtless he had a preference for it
over metaphysical inquiries。 He was an Englishman； and the English
mind is objective rather than subjective； and is prone to over…
value the outward and the seen； above the inward and unseen； and
perhaps for the same reason that the Old Testament seems to make
prosperity the greatest blessing； while adversity seems to he the
blessing of the New Testament。
One of Bacon's longest works is the 〃Silva Sylvarum；〃a sort of
natural history； in which he treats of the various forces and
productions of Nature；the air the sea； the winds； the clouds；
plants and animals； fire and water； sounds and discords； colors and
smells； heat and cold； disease and health； but which varied
subjects he presents to communicate knowledge； with no especial
utilitarian end。
〃The Advancement of Learning〃 is one of Bacon's most famous
productions； but I fail to see in it an objective purpose to enable
men to become powerful or rich or comfortable； it is rather an
abstract treatise； as dry to most people as legal disquisitions；
and with no more reference to rising in the world than
〃Blackstone's Commentaries〃 or 〃Coke upon Littleton。〃 It is a
profound dissertation on the excellence of learning； its great
divisions treating of history； poetry； and philosophy；of
metaphysical as well as physical philosophy； of the province of
understanding； the memory； the will； the reason； and the
imagination； and of man in society；of government； of universal
justice； of the fountains of law； of revealed religion。
And if we turn from the new method by which he would advance all
knowledge； and on which his fame as a philosopher chiefly rests；
that method which has led to discoveries that even Bacon never
dreamed of； not thinking of the fruit he was to bestow； but only
the way to secure it；even as a great inventor thinks more of his
invention than of the money he himself may reap from it； as a work
of creation to benefit the world rather than his own family； and in
the work of which his mind revels in a sort of intoxicated delight；
like a true poet when he constructs his lines； or a great artist
when he paints his picture；a pure subjective joy； not an
anticipated gain；if we turn from this 〃method〃 to most of his
other writings； what do we find？ Simply the lucubrations of a man
of letters； the moral wisdom of the moralist； the historian； the
biographer； the essayist。 In these writings we discover no more
worldliness than in Macaulay when he wrote his 〃Milton；〃 or Carlyle
when he penned his 〃Burns；〃even less； for Bacon did not write to
gain a living； but to please himself and give vent to his burning
thoughts。 In these he had no worldly aim to reach； except perhaps
an imperishable fame。 He wrote as Michael Angelo sculptured his
Moses； and he wrote not merely amid the cares and duties of a great
public office； with other labors which might be called Herculean；
but even amid pains of disease and the infirmities of age；when
rest； to most people； is the greatest boon and solace of their
lives。
Take his Essays；these are among his best…known works；so
brilliant and forcible； suggestive and rich； that even Archbishop
Whately's commentaries upon them are scarcely an addition。 Surely
these are not on material subjects； and indicate anything but a
worldly or sordid nature。 In these famous Essays； so luminous with
the gems of genius； we read not such worldly…wise exhortations as
Lord Chesterfield impressed upon his son； not the gossiping
frivolities of Horace Walpole； not the cynical wit of Montaigne；
but those great certitudes which console in affliction； which
kindle hope； which inspire lofty resolutions；anchors of the soul；
pillars of faith； sources of immeasurable joy； the glorious ideals
of true objects of desire； the eternal unities of truth and love
and beauty； all of which reveal the varied experiences of life and
the riches of deeply…pondered meditation on God and Christianity；
as well as knowledge of the world and the desirableness of its
valued gifts。 How beautiful are his thoughts on death； on
adversity； on glory； on anger； on friendship； on fame； on ambition；
on envy； on riches； on youth and old age； and divers other subjects
of moral import； which show the elevation of his soul； and the
subjective as well as the objective turn of his mind； not dwelling
on what he should eat and what he should drink and wherewithal he
should be clothed； but on the truths which appeal to our higher
nature； and which raise the thoughts of men from earth to heaven；
or at least to the realms of intellectual life and joy。
And then； it is necessary that we should take in view other labors
which dignified Bacon's retirement； as well as those which marked
his more active career as a lawyer and statesman；his histories
and biographies； as well as learned treatises to improve the laws
of England； his political discourses； his judicial charges； his
theological tracts； his speeches and letters and prayers； all of
which had relation to benefit others rather than himself。 Who has
ever done more to instruct the world；to enable men to rise not in
fortune merely； but in virtue and patriotism；