The Advancement of Learning by Francis Bacon 1605

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soupy
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The Advancement of Learning by Francis Bacon 1605

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5500

A short part of this book is on Librivox: Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, volume 3

https://librivox.org/library-of-the-worlds-best-literature-ancient-and-modern-volume-3-by-various/



The First Book Of Francis Bacon; Of The Proficience And Advancement Of Learning, Divine And Human.

He quotes much from the Latin authors of old and gives a history of learning.
Is not the rule, Si inœqualibus æqualia addas, omnia erunt inæqualia, an axiom as well of justice as of the mathematics? and is there not a true coincidence between commutative and distributive justice, and arithmetical and geometrical proportion? Is not that other rule, Quæ in eodem tertio conveniunt, et inter se conveniunt, a rule taken from the mathematics, but so potent in logic as all syllogisms are built upon it?
The second part of metaphysic is the inquiry of final causes, which I am moved to report not as omitted, but as misplaced.
Another error is an impatience of doubt, and haste to assertion without due and mature suspension of judgment. For the two ways of contemplation are not unlike the two ways of action commonly spoken of by the ancients: the one plain and smooth in the beginning, and in the end impassable; the other rough and troublesome in the entrance, but after a while fair and even. So it is in contemplation: if a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties.
To proceed, to that which is next in order from God, to spirits: we find, as far as credit is to be given to the celestial hierarchy of that supposed Dionysius, the senator of Athens, the first place or degree is given to the angels of love, which are termed seraphim; the second to the angels of light, which are termed cherubim; and the third, and so following places, to thrones, principalities, and the rest, which are all angels of power and ministry; so as this angels of knowledge and illumination are placed before the angels of office and domination.
Alexander was bred and taught under Aristotle, the great philosopher, who dedicated divers of his books of philosophy unto him; he was attended with Callisthenes and divers other learned persons, that followed him in camp, throughout his journeys and conquests.
The world needs some positive fanaticism.

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