1. Man's body is of all things most susceptible of re Strength..... 205 medy, but this remedy most susceptible of error. 1. It means any ability of body to which the body of 2. No body is so variously compounded as the body 1. The variety in the composition of man's The poets did well to conjoin music and man may be brought. 2. Division. 2. The variety in the composition of man's 1. 1. Activity. 1. Strength. 2. Swiftness. 2. Patience. 1. Hardness against want. 2. Endurance of pain. General receptacle for acts of great bodily endu rance. body has made the art of medicine 2. The philosophy of athletics is not much investi- The lawyer is judged by the virtue of his pleading, and not by the issue of the cause. The master of the ship is judged by the directing his course aright, and not by the fortune of the voyage. But the physician, and perhaps the politician, hath no particular acts demonstrative of his ability, but is judged most by the event. 3. The quack is often prized before the regular physi cian. 4. Physicians often prefer other pursuits to their own professions. pro You shall have of them antiquities, poets, humanists, statesmen, merchants, divines, and in every of these better seen than in their fession; and no doubt upon this ground, that they find that mediocrity and excellency in their art maketh no difference in profit or reputation towards their fortune; for the weakness of patients, and sweetness of life, and nature of hope, maketh men depend upon physicians with all their defects. 5. Diseases may be subdued. If we will excite and awake our observation, we shall see in familiar instances what a predominant faculty the subtilty of spirit hath over the variety of matter or form. 6. Medicine has been more laboured than advanced. 7. Deficiencies of medicine. 1. Want of medical reports. 2. Defective anatomies. 3. Hasty conclusions that diseases are in- In the Treatise De Augmentis, this passage is thus altered: Adulterate decoration by painting and cerusse, is well worthy of the imperfections which attend it; being neither fine enough to deceive, nor handsome to please, nor wholesome to use. We read of Jezabel that she painted her face: but there is no such report of Esther or Judith. "In Bacon's Essay on Vicissitude of Things, he says, In the youth of a state, arms do flourish; in the middle age of a state, learning; and then both of them together for a time: in the declining age of a state, mechanical arts and merchandise. Lloyd, in his life of Sir Edward Howard, says, almost in the same words, In the youth of this state, as of all others, arms did flourish; in the middle state of it, learning; and in the declining (as covetousness and theft attend old age) mechanic arts and merchandise. Q. 1. Is this observation founded on fact? Q. 2. Supposing it to be founded on fact; what are the causes-Does commerce lower the character? Is the service of mammon at variance with the service of God? Q. 3. Supposing the mechanical arts and merchandise hitherto to have accompanied the decline of states, may they not both be traced to excess of civilization, instead of being Sylla and the triumvirs never proscribed supposed to flow from each other? Q. 4. Supposing the opinion to be founded on fact; wil! not the evil now be prevented by the art of printing? The Mind. 2. Of the erroneous opinions upon fascination. 1. Division 1st. As to the origin of the mind. 2d. 3. Inquiry how to fortify the imagination. As to its faculties. 4. The only defect in this subject is as to not distinguishing its extent.2 The Origin of the Mind......... 205 1. To this appertains the consideration of the origin of the soul and its faculties. THE USE AND OBJECT OF THE FACULTIES OF MAN 206 1. Division of this knowledge: 1st. Relating to the understanding. 2d. Relating to the will. 2. This subject may be more diligently inquired than it hath been in philosophy: but it is referable 2. The understanding produces decrees; the will acto divinity. 3. Appendices to this knowledge: 1. Divination. 2. 2. Artificial is a prediction by argument, concluding upon signs and tokens. 3. Division: 1st. Rational. 2d. Superstitious. 4. Rational artificial divination is when the argument 3. is coupled with a derivation of causes. The astronomer hath his predictions, as of conjunctions, aspects, eclipses, and the like. The physician hath his predictions of death, of recovery, of the accidents and issues of dis- 1. eases. The politician hath his predictions; "O urbem venalem, et cito perituram, si emptorem invenerit!" which stayed not long to be performed, in Sylla first, and after in Cæsar. 5. Superstitious artificial divination is when there is a mere casual coincidence of the event and prediction. Such as were the heathen observations upon 2. the inspection of sacrifices, the flights of birds, the swarming of bees; and such as was the Chaldean astrology, and the like. 6. Artificial divination is not proper to this place, but should be referred to the sciences to which it appertains. tions. This Janus of imagination hath differing faces; for the face towards reason hath the print of truth, but the face towards action hath the print of good; which nevertheless are faces, "Quales decet esse sororum." It was well said by Aristotle, "That the mind hath over the body that commandment which the lord hath over a bondmun; but that reason hath over the imagination that com mandment which a magistrate hath over a free citizen;" who may come also to rule in his turn. Observations upon the imagination. Poesy is rather a pleasure or play of imagination, than a work or duty thereof. Of the Understanding. Knowledge respecting the understanding is to most wits the least delightful; and seems but a net of subtlety and spinosity; but it is the key of all other arts. As knowledge is “pabulum animi ;” so in the nature of men's appetite to this food, most men are of the taste and stomach of the Israelites in the desert, that would fain have returned" ad ollas carnium." Division...... 1. Invention. 2. Judgment. 3. Memory. 4. Tradition. Invention... 1. Division. 1. Of arts and sciences. 2. Of arguments. 207 207 2. The art of inventing arts and sciences is deficient. This is such a deficience as if, in the making of an inventory touching the state of a defunct, it should be set down, that there is no ready money. For as money will fetch all other commodities, so this knowledge is that which should purchase all the rest. And like as the West Indies had never been discovered, if the use of the mariner's needle had not been first discovered, though the one be vast regions, and the other a small motion; so it cannot be found strange if sciences be no further discovered, if the art itself of inven tion and discovery hath been passed over. Proofs that the art of inventing arts and sciences is deficient. 6. Divination of influxion' is furthered by abstinence. 3. 7. Native divination is accompanied by repose and quiet divination by influxion is fervent and impatient. 1. Their logic does not pretend to invent sciences or axioms... 207 Men are rather beholden to a wild goat for surgery, or to a nightingale for music, or to the ibis for some part of physic, or to the pot Here, in the Treatise De Augmentis, is an extensive addition upon Voluntary Motion-Sense and Sensibility-Perception and Sense-The Form of Light. lid that flew open for artillery, or generally to chance, or any thing else, than to logic, for the invention of arts and sciences. It was no marvel, the manner of antiquity being to consecrate inventors, that the Egyptians had so few human idols in their temples, but almost all brute. his shop, but only work as he is bespoken, he should be weakly customed. Our Saviour, speaking of divine knowledge, saith, that the kingdom of heaven is like a good householder, that bringeth forth both new and old store. 3. This subject is more fully investigated under the head of rhetoric. Who taught the raven in a drought to throw pebbles into a hollow tree, where she espied water, that the water might rise so as she might come to it? Who taught the bee to sail 1. through such a vast sea of air, and to find the way from a field in flower, a great way off, to her hive? Who taught the ant to bite every 2. grain of corn that she burieth in her hill, lest it should take root and grow? 2. The forms of induction which logic pro- ............ To conclude upon an enumeration of particulars, without instance contradictory, is no conclusion, but a conjecture; for who can assure, in many subjects upon those particulars which appear of a side, that there are not other on the contrary side which appear not? As if Samuel should have rested upon those Suggestion.... 209 It directs the mind to certain marks, as a mode of Different sorts of topics: 1. General. 2. Particular. 1. Its uses are to furnish arguments to dispute proba- A faculty of wise interrogating is half a knowledge. For as Plato saith, "Whosoever seeketh, knoweth that which he seeketh for in a general notion; else how shall he know it when he hath found it ?" Particular Suggestion. sons of Jesse which were brought before him, 1. It is a direction of invention in every particular 3. Allowing some axioms to be rightly induced, middle propositions cannot be inferred from them in subject of nature by syllogism. Here was their chief error; they charged the deceit upon the senses; which in my knowledge. 2. Ars inveniendi adolescit cum inventis. In going of a way, we do not only gain that part of the way which is passed, but we gain the better sight of that part of the way which remaineth. Judgment..... 210 judgment, notwithstanding all their cavilla-1. It relates to the nature of proofs and demonstrations. tions, are very sufficient to certify and report 2. 4. Bacon's intention to propound the art of inventing INVENTION OF SPEECH OR ARGUMENT.. 209 1. It is more properly memory with application than invention. We do account it a chase, as well of deer in an enclosed park as in a forest at large. 2. Modes of producing this recollection: 1st. Prepa- 2. ration. 2d. Suggestion. 1. It is the storing arguments on such things as are 4. frequently discussed. 2. It consists chiefly of diligence. Aristotle, said the sophists, "did as if one Different modes of judging: 1. By induction, which is referred to the Novum Organum. 2. By syllogism. Of Syllogism. Syllogisms are agreeable to the mind, and have been much laboured. The nature of man doth extremely covet to have somewhat in his understanding fixed and immoveable, and as a rest and support of the mind. And therefore as Aristotle endeavoureth to prove, that in all motion there is some point quiescent; and as he elegantly expoundeth the ancient fable of Atlas, that stood fixed, and bare up the heaven from falling, to be meant of the poles or axle-tree of heaven, whereupon the conversion is accomplished; so assuredly men have a desire to have an Atlas or axle-tree within, to keep them from fluctuation. The art of judging by syllogism is the reduction of propositions to principles by an agreed middle that professed the art of shoemaking should 5. It is for direction. not teach how to make a shoe, but only exhibit, 6. It sets down the true form of arguments, from which any deviation leads to error. in a readiness, a number of shoes of all fash ions and sizes." But yet a man might reply, The Doctrine of Elenches........ 210 that if a shoemaker should have no shoes in 7. It is for caution to detect fallacies. The Experientia Literata is contained in the Treatise De Augmentis; and his Interpretatio Naturæ constitutes his Novum Organum. In the more gross sorts of fallacies it happeneth, as Seneca maketh the comparison well, as in juggling feats, which though we know not how they are done, yet we know well it is 8. Elenches are well laboured by Plato and Aristotle. 3. Sophism. 4. Congruity The rigour and curiosity in requiring the more severe proofs in some things, and chiefly the facility in contenting ourselves with the more remiss proofs in others, hath been amongst the greatest causes of detriment and hinderance to knowledge. The difference is good which was made be- 10. Elenches extend to divers parts of knowledge. 12. Seducements that work by the strength of im- 13. Elenches of idols. 211 MEMORY.................... 212 The nature of the character is referred to grammar. The disposition of our knowledge depends upon common-places. Of common-places injuring the memory. The mind of man, which I find not ob- Because it is but a counterfeit thing in knowledges to be forward and pregnant, except a man be deep and full, I hold the entry of common-places, to be a matter of great use and essence in studying, as that which assureth "copia" of invention, and contracteth judgment to a strength. 14. The mind is more affected by affirmatives than negatives. As was well answered by Diagoras to him that showed him in Neptune's temple the greater number of pictures of such as had escaped shipwreck and had paid their vows to Neptune, saying, " Advise now, you that think it folly to invocate Neptune in tempest:" "Yea, but," said Diagoras, "where are they painted that are drowned?" 15. The mind supposes a greater equality then exists.2 The mathematicians cannot satisfy themselves, except they reduce the motions of the celestial bodies to perfect circles, rejecting spiral lines, and labouring to be discharged of eccentrics. 16 The mind is prejudiced by the false appearances imposed by every man's own individual nature and custom3.. 211 Memory..... 212 It is weakly inquired. not for use. I make no more estimate of repeating a great number of names or words upon once hearing, or the pouring forth of a number of verses or rhymes ex tempore, or the making of a satirical simile of every thing, or the turning of every thing to a jest, or the fulsifying or contradicting of every thing by cavil, or the like, (whereof in the faculties of the mind there is great "copia," and such as by device and practice may be exalted to an extreme degree of wonder,) than I do of the tricks of tumblers, funambuloes, baladines; the one being the same in the mind that the other is in the body, matters of strangeness without worthiness. Art of memory is built upon prenotion and emblem. Prenotion is a limitation of an indefinite seeking by directing us to seek in a narrow compass. Emblem reduces conceits intellectual to images sensible. (t) (age) If a child were continued in a grot or cave TRADITION.. is the transferring our knowledge to others. 1. The organ of speech. THE ORGAN OF SPEECH. 212 Whatever is capable of sufficient differences and perception by the sense is competent to express thought. Different Signs of Thought. 1. Having similitude with the notion. 1. Hieroglyphics. 2. Gestures. 2. Not having similitude or words. See note (U) at the end of this Treatise. Periander, being consulted with how to preserve a tyranny newly usurped, bid the messenger attend and report what he saw him do; and went into his garden and topped all the highest flowers. Hypotheses respecting the origin of words...... 213 Of Grammar. Man still striveth to reintegrate himself in those benedictions, from which by his fault he hath been deprived; and as he hath striven against the first general curse by the invention of all other arts, so hath he sought to come forth of the second general curse, which was the confusion of tongues, by the art of grammar: whereof the use in a mother tongue is small, in a foreign tongue more; but most in such foreign tongues as have ceased to be vulgar tongues, and are turned only to learned tongues. The accidents of words, as measure, sound, &c. is an appendix to grammar. There are various sorts of ciphers. As there be many of great account in their countries and provinces, which, when they come up to the seat of the estate, are but of mean rank and scarcely regarded; so these arts, being here placed with the principal and supreme sciences, seem petty things; yet to such as have chosen them to spend their labours and studies in them, they seem great matters. Second Method. A concealed or revealed style. 214 Third Method. Method or aphorisms. 1. Delivery by aphorisms is a test of the knowledge of the writer. 2. Methodical delivery is better to procure consent than to generate action. 3. Aphorisms invite to augment knowledge. Fourth Method. Delivery by assertions with their proofs or interrogations. 4. Delivery by interrogations should be used only to remove stray prejudices. If it be immoderately followed, is as prejudicial to the proceeding of learning, as it is to the proceeding of an army to go about to besiege every little fort or hold. For if the field be kept, and the sum of the enterprise pursued, those smaller things will come in of themselves. Fifth Method. Accommodation of delivery according to the matter which is to be treated. Sixth Method. Delivery according to the anticipation in the minds of the hearers. 1. Those whose conceits are seated in popular opinions need only to dispute or to prove. 2. Those whose conceits are beyond popular opinions have a double labour. 1st. That they may be conceited. 2d. That they may prove. 3. Science not consonant to presuppositions must bring in aid similitudes. Method considers the disposition of the work, and the limitation of propositions 215 It belongeth to architecture to consider not only the whole frame of a work, but the seve ral beams and columns. Observations upon the limits of propositions. Of the method of imposture. as they are the footsteps of reason...... ... 2131. First Method. Magistral which teaches, or initiative which insinuates.. 214 A mass of words of all arts, to give men countenance, that those which use the terms might be thought to understand the art; which collections are much like a fripper's or broker's shop, that hath ends of every thing but nothing of worth. ILLUSTRATIVE OF SPEECH........ 215 Eloquence is in reality inferior to wisdom; but in popular opinions superior to it. It is said by God to Moses, when he disabled himself for want of this faculty, Aaron shall be thy speaker, and thou shalt be to him as God. He that delivereth knowledge, desireth to deliver it in such form as may be best believed, and not as may be best examined; and he that receiveth knowledge, desireth rather pre- 2. The deficiences in eloquence are rather in some sent satisfaction, than expectant inquiry; and so rather not to doubt, than not to err. collections than in the art itself. 3. The office of rhetoric is to apply reason to imagination for the better moving of the will. The disturbers of reason are fallacies of arguments: assiduity of impression, and violence of passion. Knowledge that is delivered as a thread to 5. It is in knowledge as it is in plants; if you 7. 8. The counteractors of these disturbers are logic, morality and rhetoric. Speech is more conversant in adorning what is good than in colouring evil. "Virtue, if she could be seen, would move great love and affection;" so seeing that she cannot be showed to the sense by corporal shape, the next degree is to show her to the imagination in lively representation. The affections not being pliant to reason, rhetoric is necessary. Difference between logic and rhetoric. |