Philosophical disputes are conducted in a narrow circle of initiates, or at a festive table after an abundant libation. In any case, there is a subject for discussion and criteria for assessment. Gloomy German thinkers were looking for the meaning of life. And the pragmatic British viewed knowledge as a tool for gaining benefits for themselves and for the state. Francis Bacon was one of the first to revise the teachings of Greek and Roman authorities. Thanks to his approach, he made a good career.
Starting conditions
According to the data that have come down to our time, Francis Bacon was born on January 22, 1561 in a noble family. His father was a high-ranking nobleman close to the royal. Mother also came from the nobility. The spouses in social status corresponded to one another. The child grew up and was brought up in a strict, rational environment. An idle atmosphere was not welcomed in the house. From a young age, Francis was trained in appropriate manners, social behavior and the foundations of public policy.
In order to understand the foundations of the worldview of the famous philosopher, it is important to remember that the personal life of a nobleman was closely intertwined with state affairs, problems and prospects. From an early age, Francis observed how people of equal social status live with him. In adulthood, he studied in detail the life and traditions of the lower class. After all, the well-being and greatness of the Kingdom also depends on them. The biography of the next offspring of the Bacon clan developed according to traditional templates.
For the first twelve years of his life, Francis was homeschooled. He knew Latin and Greek perfectly. In 1573, the teenager, along with his older brother, was placed in a college at the University of Cambridge. For three years, young nobles received the basics of the education they needed. It was within the walls of this educational institution that Bacon entered into a correspondence polemic with the famous Aristotle. He believed that the logic of the ancient Greek thinker was suitable for abstract arguments, but not for the benefit of a person in real life.
Professional activity
After college, Francis Bacon goes, in modern terms, to practice. He is enlisted in the retinue of the British ambassador to France. In my future career, the experience gained abroad will be of great help. The young trainee managed to visit various parts of the vast continental country. Based on the information collected in this way, Bacon will write his work "On the State of Christendom" in a few years. The sudden death of his father was the reason for returning to his native shores.
It so happened that the young Bacon inherited a meager inheritance, he was forced to earn a living as a lawyer. The job of a barrister requires constant effort and brings in very moderate income. But Francis is trying, and his efforts are bearing fruit. In 1584 he was elected to Parliament. Francis Bacon becomes a full member of the House of Commons. As part of his activities, he sends analytical and recommendation notes to Koroleva. Simultaneously with parliamentary activities, he is engaged in philosophical research.
It should be noted that, as part of his daily chores, Bacon is haunted by very unpleasant scandals. As a result of one of the conflicts, he even ended up in prison for several days. Little is known about the family life of a parliamentarian and a philosopher. He was married to a young lady named Alice. The wife turned out to be forty years younger than her husband. Love did not help - they could not have children.
