94 SCIENCE AND THE HUMAN MIND 



He anticipates some recent speculations in suggesting 

 that climate may influence the laws and social in- 

 stitutions of men. He gives a long description of the 

 countries of the known world. 



He seems especially to have been interested in 

 optics, and describes the laws of reflection and the 

 general phenomena of refraction. He understands 

 mirrors and lenses, and describes a telescope, though 

 he does not appear to have made one. As an 

 example of the use of inductive reasoning he gives 

 a theory of the rainbow. 



He describes many mechanical inventions, some 

 actually known to him and some as possibilities of the 

 future among the latter, mechanically driven ships 

 and carriages, and flying machines. He considers 

 magic mirrors, burning-glasses, gunpowder, Greek 

 fire, the magnet, artificial gold, the philosopher's 

 stone, all in a confused mixture of fact, prediction 

 and credulity. 



In trying to appraise the value of Bacon's work we 

 must not forget that his fame would have rested on 

 mere popular tradition of his magic had not Pope 

 Clement commanded him to write his books. Doubt- 

 less others besides Bacon were touched by the same 

 interests but have failed to leave direct traces. Indeed, 

 reflections of the work of such men are found in Bacon's 

 writings. ' There are only two perfect mathemati- 

 cians," he writes, " Master John of London, and Master 

 Peter de Maharn-Curia, a Picard." Master Peter 

 recurs when Bacon is dealing with experiment. 



There is one science, Bacon says, more perfect than 

 others, which indeed is needed to verify the others, 

 the science of experiment, surpassing the sciences 



