FRANCIS BACON 

 1561-1626 



Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam, is distinguished in the history of 

 science for his criticism of the rnethods of knowledge of his day. In 

 his great writings, ''The Advancement of Learning" (160^), ''Novum 

 Organum" (1620), and "De Augmentis Scientiarum" (162 j), he 

 cumidatively outlined a new method, named after him, zvhcrehy all 

 knowledge was referred to experience and corrected by experiment. 

 His inductive method was epoch-making in that it established the 

 technique underlying all modern science. 



He was born in London, January 22, 1^61, the son of Sir Nicholas 

 Bacon, Lord Keeper of the Seals. In 13/3, at the age of twelve, he 

 matrictdated in Trinity College, Cambridge. After his father's death, 

 in 1579, he led a precarious life, accumulated many debts, and ended 

 by accusing his intimate friend. Lord Essex, of treason. In i6oy 

 King James appointed him Solicitor. In 161 3 he became Attorney 

 General, and in 1618 was made Lord Chancellor and knighted Baron 

 Verulanw The following year he zvas impeached for bribery, and im- 

 prisoned four days for the offense. Thereafter, until his death on 

 April p, 1626, he gave himself wholly to the development of his new 

 scientific method, 



THE METHOD OF INDUCTIVE SCIENCE "^ 



They who have presumed to dogmatize on nature, as on some well 

 investigated subject, either from self-conceit or arrogance, and in the 

 professorial style, have inflicted the greatest injury on philosophy and 



* Selection from the Preface to the Novum Organum. 



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