5.Bacon.ppt

Francis Bacon Brief IntroductionEnglish Renaissance philosopher, essayist, statesman, born in London, Jan 22,1561 and died in April 9, 1626.One of the outstanding figures of the Renaissance, Bacon made important contributions to several fields. His chief interest were science philosophy, but he was also a distinguished man of letters and held several high governmental positions during the reign of king JamesⅠ.He was one of the earliest and most eloquent spokesmen for experimental science. He lays the foundation for modern science with his insistence on scientific way of thinking and fresh observation rather than authority as a basis for obtaining knowledge. His works His works can be divided into three groups： 1）the philosophical works:---The Advancement of Learning (1605)---Novum Organum (New Instrument) (1620)(Latin version)2） the literary works :---Essays--- The History of the Reign of Henry Ⅶ(1622)---The New Atlantis (unfinished): anaccount of an ideal society and animaginary voyage. 3）the professional works:Maxims of the Law 《法律箴言》 His Major Work: EssaysAs an author, Bacon is most famous for his Essays 《论说文集》, which deal with such subjects as honor, friendship, love, and riches. Written in a terse, polished style, with many learned allusions and metaphors, the essays rank with the finest in English literature.The term essay was borrowed from Montaignes Essais, which appeared from 1580 to 1588. Bacon learned from Montaigne, the first great modern essayist, the economic and flexible way of writing.Bacons essays are famous for their brevity, compactness and powerfulness.The essays are well arranged and enriched by Biblical allusions, Metaphors and cadence. His achievements ---As a literary man, Bacon is the first English essayist, whose Essays won him a high place in the history of English literature. ---As a philosopher, he is the founder of English materialistic philosophy and modern science. He advocates the inductive method of reasoning.the real fathe