Advancement of Learning 143 



fort or hold. For if the field be kept, and the sum of the 

 enterprise pursued, those smaller things will come in of 

 themselves : indeed a man would not leave some important 

 piece enemy at his back. 1 In like manner, the use of con 

 futation in the delivery of sciences ought to be very sparing ; 

 and to serve to remove strong preoccupations and pre judg 

 ments, and not to minister and excite disputations and 

 doubts. 



Another diversity of Method is, according to the subject 

 or matter which is handled ; for there is a great difference 

 in delivery of the mathematics, which are most abstracted 

 of knowledges, and policy, which is the most immersed: 

 and howsoever contention hath been moved touching a 

 uniformity of method in multiformity of matter, yet we 

 see how that opinion, besides the weakness of it, hath been 

 of ill desert towards learning, as that which taketh the way 

 to reduce learning to certain empty and barren generali 

 ties ; being but the very husks and shells of sciences, all the 

 kernel being forced out and expulsed with the torture and 

 press of the Method. And therefore as I did allow well of 

 particular topics for invention, so I do allow likewise of 

 particular Methods of tradition. 



Another diversity of judgment 2 in the delivery and 

 teaching of knowledge is according unto the light and 

 presuppositions of that which is delivered ; for that know 

 ledge which is new, and foreign from opinions received, 

 is to be delivered in another form than that that is agreeable 3 

 and familiar; and therefore Aristotle, when he thinks to 

 tax Democritus, doth in truth commend him, where he 

 saith, // we shall indeed dispute, and not follow after simili 

 tudes, etc* For those whose conceits are seated in popluar 

 opinions, need only but to prove or dispute; but those 

 whose conceits are beyond popular opinions, have a double 

 labour; the one to make themselves conceived, and the 

 other to prove and demonstrate: so that it is of necessity 



1 This passage is equivalent to &quot; although indeed a man would 

 not leave some fortified place hostile to him in his rear.&quot; 



2 Bacon meant here to say &quot; diversity of Method to be used with 

 judgment,&quot; etc. ; for the Latin is &quot; Sequitur aliud Methodi discrimen 

 in tradendis scientiis cum judicio adhibendum.&quot; 



3 Agreeable. &quot; Opinionibus jampridem imbibitis et receptis 

 affinis.&quot; 



4 Arist. Eth. Nic. vi. 3, see note in Ellis and Spedding s edition. 



