Critical Analysis Of Francis Bacon Philosophy Essay

Bacon was a really wise man. His “Essays” is a treasure of world philosophy. They teach us those permanent moral principles which everyone must know obligatory. The essay “Of Great Places” consists of variety of moral maxims yet in this essay he also teaches worldly success. “All rising to great place is by a winding stair; and if there be factions, it is good to side a man’s self whilst he is rising and to behave himself when he is placed” (Bacon). It is clearly a utilitarian advice and it for sure contains “a compromise between morality and worldly success” (Archer). Even when Bacon convinces the person not badly to say about its predecessor, not because of high ethics, but because of the fact that the person does not follow council would suffer with unpleasant consequences.

Key words: great place, Francis Bacon, essay, happiness.

In his essay “Of Great place” he discusses how a great position influences person’s life and points on it. Bacon argues that such people hardly may be happy because “they are the first that find their own grieves, though they are the last that find their own faults” (Bacon). Indeed, great persons may seem happy but not be happy really. Philosopher is right; they should care about other and not think about themselves. Great post allow not only to make goodness, but also evil. Everything here depends on the person. Only readiness for making goodness is the major

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justification for love of power. “Merit and good works, is the end of man’s motion; and conscience of the same is the accomplishment of man’s rest” – stress Bacon and we cannot disagree with him. We have to learn on other’s mistakes in order to avoid our:  “Reduce things to the first institution, and observe wherein, and how, they have degenerate; but yet ask counsel of both times; of the ancient time, what is best; and of the latter time, what is fittest” (Bacon). In his essay Bacon gives us some helpful advises that do not lose its currency till today. Indeed, changes are not so good indicator and philosopher is right: changeable people are suspicious. So, every change should be explained together with the reasons that caused it. The author also teaches: “In the discharge of thy place, set before thee the best examples; for imitation is a globe of precepts” and it is truly important thought. To my mind, it is very current as well. A lot of people got used to create idols and these examples not always the best ones. Very often it is the worst examples but people imitate them because it is fashionably, in tune with the times and everyone follows it. However, it is a big mistake. Only the best examples from the past are able to teach us how to act nowadays. We should learn according to those experiences. Bacon fairly stress that we should learn negative things from other experiences not in order to glorify ourselves and to reproach them, but to learn from those mistakes. I think it is also very significant point – to

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“think it more honor, to direct in chief, than to be busy in all” (Bacon). Very often people of great post try to control everything forgetting about their main task and main goals. Power makes them blind. They aspire to rule everything. It is not that should it be like. If to keep one topic from this wise essay, so perhaps I would like to discuss this one: “… great persons had need to borrow other men’s opinions, to think themselves happy; for if they judge by their own feeling, they cannot find it” (Bacon). Well, I agree with this Bacon’s statement. Great people really devote themselves to others. They must care about all and everyone separately (if it is about some President, for instance). At last, it is truly hard. Indeed! However, such devotion to people and their occupation may turn into happiness. Why not? Imagine: you rule the country and feel responsibility for each single person. Yes, it is a great response, but there are a lot of examples from history when such great people were really happy with their posts. If you really love your work and what you do, so this makes you feel like “you are at your place”. Despite of all difficulties, you will be strong enough to overcome everything if you like your position. And it is understandable. Well, of course, you may be unhappy being at the great place, but only in a case when you are indifferent to other people and events, if you do not feel it is “yours”. And Bacon is right: on order to feel them happy great people should know other’s opinions. It is understandable

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because they work for others and we may even say – live for others. It is responsibility. Only when you feel that you are heard and understood by others, that they appreciate you and follow you, so then you may feel happy. If you will be alone and work for no one being at the great place, so this work will does not have any results, except of negative. You should feel support and comprehension, understanding and gratitude. You must see that all you do is right and not in vain. Have you ever noticed that politics are really successful only when they are appreciated by people? And it is not only about voting, but during it, of course, as well. If people value their power, other ones will appreciate it too. It is simple, by the way: an effect of situation: if you are loved by someone, especially, by many people, very often others pay a lot of attention to you. Why? Because they see that you affect people somehow, they find something in you, like you for something… Consequently, you are bright, interesting, and sociable and you know how to treat people. And it is very important thing. Love of majority is an indicator. Of course, such leaders will feel themselves happy: they may be sure that approximately all their deeds are right and helpful. Well, perhaps, you may disagree and say that sometimes even bad politics and leaders in general may be happy but indifferent to their people or workers. It is an opinion that has a right to exist, but ask yourself: is it real happiness when you know and feel that others cannot stand you?

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Is it happiness to realize that all your actions they consider as needless, empty, senseless, harmful, insincere, wrong, awful and so on and so for? To my mind, in this case you cannot feel yourself happy anyway.

Work Citied

Archer, Francis Bacon: Wordly Wisdom (2011). 16 Jan 2011. Web. 20 May 2011.

Bacon, Francis. Essays: Of Great Place. Web. 20 May 2011.

Fuller, Jean Overton, Sir Francis Bacon (1994). Maidstone, Kent: George Mann Books.