Francis Bacon: Of Studies

FRANCIS BACON OF STUDIES: An Explication

Introduction: Francis Bacon, the first major English essayist, comments forcefully on the value of reading
and learning. As a capacious and pragmatic mind of the Renaissance, Bacon dwells on the subject of
studying books and their uses in his essay, 'Of Studies'. The essay appeals to the intellect as he uses
several many rhetorical devices[1] and substantiations to prove his arguments. His careful
tripartite[2] division of studies expressed succinctly in aphoristic prose[3] demands the complete attention
of the mind of the reader.

He wrote what now we would call "reflective" or "serious" essays. They are short pieces dealing with
philosophical ideas, filled with aphorisms, and putting forth a personal point of view, but expecting
readers to accept his ideas and recognize their validity. Some of his works are: Of Truth, Of Death, Of
Adversity, Of Envy, Of Love, Of Friendship, Of Nature in Men, Of Building, Of Gardens, Of Studies (the
last of which is probably his best known). Bacon's essays are a serious thinker's sharing of highest ideals.
The very titles of his essays suggest that he was a great thinker and induced the readers into deep
contemplation. The purpose dictates his tone and style as we notice that the tone of all his essays is
serious and solemn as if it has sanctity of a religion, yet they provide convincing arguments that came
from Bacons profession as a lawyer.

Summary/ Critical Appreciation: He instigates that studies serve us by giving us pleasure, by

assisting us with self improvement and enhancing our capability in profession. He considers the evils of
excess studying as over reading leads to laziness, vanity and precocity. Education extracts the best in us
and experience further perfects it because experience teaches us the prudence to consider only the useful
information and eliminate unnecessary details.

After discussing the function of education, Bacon moves on to imbibe the right attitude towards
acquisition of knowledge. Cunning people dislike reading as knowledge might teach them those lessons
that might be inimical or contradictory to their self-interests and they are too rigid to change themselves.
Destitute people admire education as possessing it is a goal for them. However, the right approach
towards studies is to adopt and comply with it which can be possible only after careful observation and
experience. Bacon advises to acquire knowledge neither to argue or attack nor to deliberately display it as
jewellery, but to train the mind to be logical and sensible.

He divides the books into three categories: those to be read in parts (like dictionary, law books), those to
be read entirely out of necessity and those to be read with care, diligence and sincerity (holy books).
Certain books are to be read out of necessity in order to support an argument or to solve a problem, but
these books do not serve humanity at large. Otherwise a good book is like filtered water that attracts and
serves people irrespective of their culture, caste or creed.

To attain knowledge and to sustain it is a challenge. Reading is the first step to gain knowledge as it
shapes our personality, interaction sharpens our communication skills as we learn to exchange knowledge,
amend or enrich it. Writing is of supreme importance as with writing comes perfection. Through writing
we not only permanently lock the information with us but are also able to contemplate and add our own
opinion or interpretation to it. Therefore, if a person writes less, he needs to have a great memory to be
able to recall each and everything learnt, if he communicates less, he must have extra-ordinary wit and
intelligence to be able to create a rapport, but if he reads little, he will have to use extreme cunningness to
disguise his ignorance. Studies should include reading, which gives depth; speaking, which adds
readiness to thought; and writing, which trains in preciseness.

The author ascribes certain virtues to individual fields of study. Wisdom comes from history as people
learn from mistakes, intelligence from poetry (literature) as an artist thinks lofty thoughts, foresees and
subtly expresses it in words. Subtlety is achieved from mathematics, as it teaches us analytical skills and
endurance. Similarly depth comes from natural philosophy and seriousness from moral (study of
religion). Whatever subject we take up it modifies our perception and influences our mannerisms.
Therefore just as sports help to cure various body ailments, similarly each mental defect is looked after by
various branches of study. If a man lacks concentration and focus, he must study Mathematics. If he has
insufficient knowledge, he must take up higher education as they drill information into our minds and if
he realizes that he is weak in arguing, he must take up a lawyers profession as it will train him to be an
efficient debater.

Bacons four-hundred word essay, studded with Latin phrases and highly compressed in thought has
intellectual appeal. Bacons essay is terse, pithy, packed with thought and reflects the intellectual power of
the great mind.

Q.1. Explain the following lines in your own words:

To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation pretention;
to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor wit/capability of a scholar. They perfect nature, and
are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning, by study; and
studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.

Ans: Introduction: The above mentioned lines have been extracted from Francis Bacons essay, Of
Studies. Bacon, the first major English essayist, emphasizes on the value of reading and learning. Hewas
one of the leading figures in natural philosophy and in the field of scientific methodology in the period of
transition from the Renaissance to the early modern era. He also published texts in which he speculated
on possible conceptions of society, and pondered over questions of ethics (in Essays) and even in his
works on natural philosophy (The Advancement of Learning).Being a lawyer by profession, his essays
leave an indelible impression upon the readers mind. His practical wisdom has universal appeal. His
maxims are prudential. The 19th century literary historian Henry Hallam wrote that "They are deeper and
more discriminating than any earlier, or almost any later, work in the English language".

In the given lines, Bacon elucidates that one must not spend too much time on reading as it makes us
lazy

These lines efficiently display Bacons use of parallel structure in the essay that reinforces the meaning
and intention of his essay. His language is simple and unambiguous and tone is that of a detached didactic
scholar. The use of appropriate similes like the pruning of plants instantly explains the thought and drives
home the underlying idea of the essay. Once again Bacons argumentative ability enables him to state his
opinion and satisfyingly convince the readers.
Which of the following statement is true?

Scholars personalities are shaped by the academic discipline in which they are engaged.

It is an affectation to use foreign words in one writing

An author can be more persuasive in a long work than in a shorter one

Study should be undertaken without thought of personal gain