history of philosophy-第37章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
theirs sinks into the ordinary commonplace of state or class relationships； because admission
thereinto is outwardly determined。 The real matter is to remain faithful to one's aims。
Section One： Modern Philosophy in its First Statement
A。 BACON。
There was already being accomplished the abandonment of the content which lies beyond us； and
which through its form has lost the merit it possessed of being true； and is become of no
significance to self…consciousness or the certainty of self and of its actuality； this we see for the first
time consciously expressed； though not as yet in a very perfect form； by Francis Bacon； Baron
Verulam； Viscount St。 Albans。 He is therefore instanced as in the fore…front of all this empirical
philosophy； and even now our countrymen like to adorn their works with sententious sayings
culled from him。 Baconian philosophy thus usually means a philosophy which is founded on the
observation of the external or spiritual nature of man in his inclinations； desires； rational and judicial
qualities。 From these conclusions are drawn； and general conceptions； laws pertaining to this
domain； are thus discovered。 Bacon has entirely set aside and rejected the scholastic method of
reasoning from remote abstractions and being blind to what lies before one’s eyes。 He takes as
his standpoint the sensuous manifestation as it appears to the cultured man； as the latter reflects
upon it； and this is conformable to the principle of accepting the finite and worldly as such。
Bacon was born in London in 1561。 His progenitors and relatives held high office in the state； and
his father was Keeper of the Great Seal to Queen Elizabeth。 He in his turn； having been educated
to follow the same vocation； at once devoted himself to the business of the State； and entered
upon an important career。 He early displayed great talent； and at the age of nineteen he produced
a work on the condition of Europe （De statu Europ？）。 Bacon in his youth attached himself to the
Earl of Essex； the favourite of Elizabeth； through whose support he； who as a younger son had to
see his paternal estate pass to his elder brother； soon attained to better circumstances； and was
elevated to a higher position。 Bacon； however； sullied his fame by the utmost ingratitude and
faithlessness towards his protector； for he is accused of having been prevailed upon by the
enemies of the Earl after his fall to charge him publicly with High Treason。 Under James I。； the
father of Charles I。； who was beheaded； a weak man； to whom he recommended himself by his
work De augmentis scientiarum； he received the most honourable offices of state by attaching
himself to Buckingham： he was made Keeper of the Great Seal； Lord Chancellor of England；
Baron Verulam。 He likewise made a rich marriage； though he soon squandered all his means； and
high though his position was； he stooped to intrigues and was guilty of accepting bribes in the most
barefaced manner。 Thereby he brought upon himself the ill…will both of people and of nobles； so
that he was prosecuted； and his case was tried before Parliament。 He was fined L40；000； thrown
into the Tower； and his name was struck out of the list of peers； during the trial and while he was
in prison he showed the greatest weakness of character。 He was； however； liberated from prison；
and his trial was annulled； owing to the even greater hatred of the king and his minister
Buckingham； under whose administration Bacon had filled these offices； and whose victim he
appeared to have been； for he fell earlier than his comrade Buckingham； and was deserted and
condemned by him。 It was not so much his innocence as the fact that those who ruined him had
made themselves hated to an equal degree through their rule； that caused the hatred and
indignation against Bacon to be somewhat mitigated。 But he neither recovered his own sense of
self…respect nor the personal esteem of others； which he had lost through his former conduct。 He
retired into private life； lived in poverty； had to beg sustenance from the king； occupied himself
during the remainder of his life with science only； and died in 1626。 （1）
Since Bacon has ever been esteemed as the man who directed knowledge to its true source； to
experience； he is； in fact； the special leader and representative of what is in England called
Philosophy； and beyond which the English have not yet advanced。 For they appear to constitute
that people in Europe which； limited to the understanding of actuality； is destined； like the class of
shopkeepers and workmen in the State； to live always immersed in matter； and to have actuality
but not reason as object。 Bacon won great praise by showing how attention is to be paid to the
outward and inward manifestations of Nature； and the esteem in which his name is thus held is
greater than can be ascribed directly to his merit。 It has become the universal tendency of the time
and of the English mode of reasoning； to proceed from facts； and to judge in accordance with
them。 Because Bacon gave expression to the tendency； and men require to have a leader and
originator for any particular manner of thinking； he is credited with having given to knowledge this
impulse towards experimental philosophy generally。 But many cultured men have spoken and
thought regarding what concerns and interests mankind； regarding state affairs； mind； heart；
external nature； &c。； in accordance with experience and in accordance with a cultured knowledge
of the world。 Bacon was just such a cultured man of the world； who had seen life in its great
relations； had engaged in state affairs； had dealt practically with actual life； had observed men； their
circumstances and relations； and had worked with them as cultured； reflecting； and； we may even
say； philosophical men of the world。 He thus did not escape the corruption of those who stood at
the helm of the state。 With all the depravity of his character he was a man of mind and clear
perception； he did not； however； possess the power of reasoning through thoughts and notions
that are universal。 We do not find in him a methodical or scientific manner of regarding things； but
only the external reasoning of a man of the world。 Knowledge of the world he possessed in the
highest degree： “rich imagination； powerful wit； and the penetrating wisdom which he displays
upon that most interesting of all subjects； commonly called the world。 This last appears to us to
have been the characteristical quality of Bacon’s genius。 。 。 It was men rather than things that he
had studied； the mistakes of philosophers rather than the errors of philosophy。 In fact he was no
lover of abstract reasoning；” and although it pertains to philosophy； we find as little as possible of
it in him。 “His writings are indeed full of refined and most acute observations； but it seldom requires
any effort on our part to apprehend their wisdom。” Hence mottoes are often derived from him。
“His judgments；” however； “are commonly given ex cathedra； or； if he endeavours to elucidate
them； it is by similes and illustrations and pointed animadversions more than by direct and
appropriate arguments。 General reasoning is absolutely essential in philosophy； the want of it is
marked in Bacon’s writings。” （2） His practical writings are specially interesting； but we do not
find the bright flashes of genius that we expected。 As during his career in the state he acted in
accordance with practical utility； he now； at its conclusion； likewise applied himself in a practical
way to scientific endeavours； and considered and treated the sciences in accordance with concrete
experience and investigation。 His is a consideration of the present； he makes the most of； and
ascribes value to it as it appears； the existent is thus regarded with open eyes； respect is paid to it
as to what reigns preeminent； and this sensuous perception is reverenced and recognized。 Here a
confidence on the part of reason in itself and in nature is awakened； it thinkingly applies itself to
nature； certain of finding the truth in it； since both are in themselves harmonious。
Bacon likewise treated the sciences methodically； he did
