AssuredlyifthetreewhichSocratesplantedandPlatowateredistobejudgedofbyitsflowersandleaves，itisthenoblestoftrees。ButifwetakethehomelytestofBacon，ifwejudgeofthetreebyitsfruits，ouropinionofitmayperhapsbelessfavourable。Whenwesumupalltheusefultruthswhichweowetothatphilosophy，towhatdotheyamount？Wefind，indeed，abundantproofsthatsomeofthosewhocultivateditweremenofthefirstorderofintellect。Wefindamongtheirwritingsincomparablespecimensbothofdialecticalandrhetoricalart。Wehavenodoubtthattheancientcontroversieswereofuse，insofarastheyservedtoexercisethefacultiesofthedisputants;
forthereisnocontroversysoidlethatitmaynotbeofuseinthisway。But，whenwelookforsomethingmore，forsomethingwhichaddstothecomfortsoralleviatesthecalamitiesofthehumanrace，weareforcedtoownourselvesdisappointed。WeareforcedtosaywithBaconthatthiscelebratedphilosophyendedinnothingbutdisputation，thatitwasneitheravineyardnoranolive—ground，butanintricatewoodofbriarsandthistles，fromwhichthosewholostthemselvesinitbroughtbackmanyscratchesandnofood。[NovumOrganum，Lib。i。Aph。73。]
Wereadilyacknowledgethatsomeoftheteachersofthisunfruitfulwisdomwereamongthegreatestmenthattheworldhaseverseen。IfweadmitthejusticeofBacon’scensure，weadmititwithregret，similartothatwhichDantefeltwhenhelearnedthefateofthoseillustriousheathenswhoweredoomedtothefirstcircleofHell:
\"Granduolmipresealcuorquandolo’ntesi，PerocchegentedimoltovaloreConobbiche’nquellimboeransospesi。\"
Butintruththeveryadmirationwhichwefeelfortheeminentphilosophersofantiquityforcesustoadopttheopinionthattheirpowersweresystematicallymisdirected。Forhowelsecoulditbethatsuchpowersshouldeffectsolittleformankind？A
pedestrianmayshowasmuchmuscularvigouronatreadmillasonthehighwayroad。Butontheroadhisvigourwillassuredlycarryhimforward;andonthetreadmillhewillnotadvanceaninch。
Theancientphilosophywasatreadmill，notapath。Itwasmadeupofrevolvingquestions，ofcontroversieswhichwerealwaysbeginningagain。Itwasacontrivanceforhavingmuchexertionandnoprogress。Wemustacknowledgethatmorethanonce，whilecontemplatingthedoctrinesoftheAcademyandthePortico，evenastheyappearinthetransparentsplendourofCicero’sincomparablediction，wehavebeentemptedtomutterwiththesurlycenturioninPersius，\"Curquisnonprandeathocest？\"
Whatisthehighestgood，whetherpainbeanevil，whetherallthingsbefated，whetherwecanbecertainofanything，whetherwecanbecertainthatwearecertainofnothing，whetherawisemancanbeunhappy，whetheralldeparturesfromrightbeequallyreprehensible;these，andotherquestionsofthesamesort，occupiedthebrains，thetongues，andthepensoftheablestmeninthecivilisedworldduringseveralcenturies。Thissortofphilosophy，itisevident，couldnotbeprogressive。Itmightindeedsharpenandinvigoratethemindsofthosewhodevotedthemselvestoit;andsomightthedisputesoftheorthodoxLilliputiansandthehereticalBlefuscudiansaboutthebigendsandthelittleendsofeggs。Butsuchdisputescouldaddnothingtothestockofknowledge。Thehumanmindaccordingly，insteadofmarching，merelymarkedtime。Ittookasmuchtroubleaswouldhavesufficedtocarryitforward;andyetremainedonthesamespot。Therewasnoaccumulationoftruth，noheritageoftruthacquiredbythelabourofonegenerationandbequeathedtoanother，tobeagaintransmittedwithlargeadditionstoathird。
WherethisphilosophywasinthetimeofCicero，thereitcontinuedtobeinthetimeofSeneca，andthereitcontinuedtobeinthetimeofFavorinus。Thesamesectswerestillbattlingwiththesameunsatisfactoryarguments，aboutthesameinterminablequestions。Therehadbeennowantofingenuity，ofzeal，ofindustry。Everytraceofintellectualcultivationwasthere，exceptaharvest。Therehadbeenplentyofploughing，harrowing，reaping，threshing。Butthegarnerscontainedonlysmutandstubble。
Theancientphilosophersdidnotneglectnaturalsciencebuttheydidnotcultivateitforthepurposeofincreasingthepowerandamelioratingtheconditionofman。Thetaintofbarrennesshadspreadfromethicaltophysicalspeculations。Senecawrotelargelyonnaturalphilosophy，andmagnifiedtheimportanceofthatstudy。Butwhy？Notbecauseittendedtoassuagesuffering，tomultiplytheconveniencesoflife，toextendtheempireofmanoverthematerialworld;butsolelybecauseittendedtoraisethemindabovelowcares，toseparateitfromthebody，toexerciseitssubtiltyinthesolutionofveryobscurequestions。[Seneca，Nat。Quaest。praef。Lib。iii。]Thusnaturalphilosophywasconsideredinthelightmerelyofamentalexercise。Itwasmadesubsidiarytotheartofdisputation;anditconsequentlyprovedaltogetherbarrenofusefuldiscoveries。
Therewasonesectwhich，howeverabsurdandpernicioussomeofitsdoctrinesmayhavebeen，ought，itshouldseem，tohavemeritedanexceptionfromthegeneralcensurewhichBaconhaspronouncedontheancientschoolsofwisdom。TheEpicurean，whoreferredallhappinesstobodilypleasure，andalleviltobodilypain，mighthavebeenexpectedtoexerthimselfforthepurposeofbetteringhisownphysicalconditionandthatofhisneighbours。Butthethoughtseemsnevertohaveoccurredtoanymemberofthatschool。Indeedtheirnotion，asreportedbytheirgreatpoet，was，thatnomoreimprovementsweretobeexpectedintheartswhichconducetothecomfortoflife。
\"AdvictumquaeflagitatususOmniajamfermemortalibusesseparata。\"
Thiscontenteddespondency，thisdispositiontoadmirewhathasbeendone，andtoexpectthatnothingmorewillbedone，isstronglycharacteristicofalltheschoolswhichprecededtheschoolofFruitandProgress。WidelyastheEpicureanandtheStoicdifferedonmostpoints，theyseemtohavequiteagreedintheircontemptforpursuitssovulgarastobeuseful。Thephilosophyofbothwasagarrulous，declaiming，canting，wranglingphilosophy。Centuryaftercenturytheycontinuedtorepeattheirhostilewar—cries，VirtueandPleasure;andintheenditappearedthattheEpicureanhadaddedaslittletothequantityofpleasureastheStoictothequantityofvirtue。
ItisonthepedestalofBacon，notonthatofEpicurus，thatthosenoblelinesoughttobeinscribed\"0tenebristantistamclarumextollerelumenQuiprimuspotuisti，illustranscommodavitae。\"
InthefifthcenturyChristianityhadconqueredPaganism，andPaganismhadinfectedChristianity。TheChurchwasnowvictoriousandcorrupt。TheritesofthePantheonhadpassedintoherworship，thesubtiltiesoftheAcademyintohercreed。Inanevilday，thoughwithgreatpompandsolemnity，——wequotethelanguageofBacon，——wastheill—starredalliancestrickenbetweentheoldphilosophyandthenewfaith。[Cogitataetvisa。]QuestionswidelydifferentfromthosewhichhademployedtheingenuityofPyrrhoandCarneades，butjustassubtle，justasinterminable，andjustasunprofitable，exercisedthemindsofthelivelyandvolubleGreeks。WhenlearningbegantoreviveintheWest，similartriflesoccupiedthesharpandvigorousintellectsoftheSchoolmen。Therewasanothersowingofthewind，andanotherreapingofthewhirlwind。Thegreatworkofimprovingtheconditionofthehumanracewasstillconsideredasunworthyofamanoflearning。Thosewhoundertookthattask，ifwhattheyeffectedcouldbereadilycomprehended，weredespisedasmechanics;ifnot，theywereindangerofbeingburnedasconjurers。
Therecannotbeastrongerproofofthedegreeinwhichthehumanmindhadbeenmisdirectedthanthehistoryofthetwogreatesteventswhichtookplaceduringthemiddleages。WespeakoftheinventionofGunpowderandoftheinventionofPrinting。Thedatesofbothareunknown。Theauthorsofbothareunknown。Norwasthisbecausemenweretoorudeandignoranttovalueintellectualsuperiority。TheinventorofgunpowderappearstohavebeencontemporarywithPetrarchandBoccaccio。TheinventorofprintingwascertainlycontemporarywithNicholastheFifth，withCosmode’Medici，andwithacrowdofdistinguishedscholars。Butthehumanmindstillretainedthatfatalbentwhichithadreceivedtwothousandyearsearlier。GeorgeofTrebisondandMarsilioFicinowouldnoteasilyhavebeenbroughttobelievethattheinventoroftheprinting—presshaddonemoreformankindthanthemselves，orthanthoseancientwritersofwhomtheyweretheenthusiasticvotaries。
Atlengththetimearrivedwhenthebarrenphilosophywhichhad，duringsomanyages，employedthefacultiesoftheablestofmen，wasdestinedtofall。Ithadwornmanyshapes。Ithadmingleditselfwithmanycreeds。Ithadsurvivedrevolutionsinwhichempires，religions，languages，races，hadperished。Drivenfromitsancienthaunts，ithadtakensanctuaryinthatChurchwhichithadpersecuted，andhad，likethedaringfiendsofthepoet，placeditsseat\"nexttheseatofGod，Andwithitsdarknessdaredaffronthislight。\"
Words，andmorewords，andnothingbutwords，hadbeenallthefruitofallthetoilofallthemostrenownedsagesofsixtygenerations。Butthedaysofthissterileexuberancewerenumbered。
Manycausespredisposedthepublicmindtoachange。Thestudyofagreatvarietyofancientwriters，thoughitdidnotgivearightdirectiontophilosophicalresearch，didmuchtowardsdestroyingthatblindreverenceforauthoritywhichhadprevailedwhenAristotleruledalone。TheriseoftheFlorentinesectofPlatonists，asecttowhichbelongedsomeofthefinestmindsofthefifteenthcentury，wasnotanunimportantevent。ThemeresubstitutionoftheAcademicforthePeripateticphilosophywouldindeedhavedonelittlegood。Butanythingwasbetterthantheoldhabitofunreasoningservility。Itwassomethingtohaveachoiceoftyrants。\"Asparkoffreedom，\"asGibbonhasjustlyremarked，\"wasproducedbythiscollisionofadverseservitude。\"
Othercausesmightbementioned。Butitischieflytothegreatreformationofreligionthatweowethegreatreformationofphilosophy。ThealliancebetweentheSchoolsandtheVaticanhadforagesbeensoclosethatthosewhothrewoffthedominionoftheVaticancouldnotcontinuetorecognisetheauthorityoftheSchools。MostofthechiefsoftheschismtreatedthePeripateticphilosophywithcontempt，andspokeofAristotleasifAristotlehadbeenanswerableforallthedogmasofThomasAquinas。\"NulloapudLutheranosphilosophiamesseinpretio，\"wasareproachwhichthedefendersoftheChurchofRomeloudlyrepeated，andwhichmanyoftheProtestantleadersconsideredasacompliment。
ScarcelyanytextwasmorefrequentlycitedbythereformersthanthatinwhichSt。PaulcautionstheColossiansnottoletanymanspoilthembyphilosophy。Luther，almostattheoutsetofhiscareer，wentsofarastodeclarethatnomancouldbeatonceaproficientintheschoolofAristotleandinthatofChrist。
Zwingle，Bucer，PeterMartyr，Calvin，heldsimilarlanguage。InsomeoftheScotchuniversities，theAristoteliansystemwasdiscardedforthatofRamus。Thus，beforethebirthofBacon，theempireofthescholasticphilosophyhadbeenshakentoitsfoundations。TherewasintheintellectualworldananarchyresemblingthatwhichinthepoliticalworldoftenfollowstheoverthrowofanoldanddeeplyrootedGovernment。Antiquity，prescription，thesoundofgreatnames，haveceasedtoawemankind。Thedynastywhichhadreignedforageswasatanend;
andthevacantthronewaslefttobestruggledforbypretenders。
Thefirsteffectofthisgreatrevolutionwas，asBaconmostjustlyobserved，[DeAugmentis，Lib。i。]togiveforatimeanundueimportancetothemeregracesofstyle。Thenewbreedofscholars，theAschamsandBuchanans，nourishedwiththefinestcompositionsoftheAugustanage，regardedwithloathingthedry，crabbed，andbarbarousdictionofrespondentsandopponents。Theywerefarlessstudiousaboutthematteroftheirwritingthanaboutthemanner。TheysucceededinreformingLatinity;buttheyneverevenaspiredtoeffectareforminPhilosophy。
AtthistimeBaconappeared。Itisaltogetherincorrecttosay，ashasoftenbeensaid，thathewasthefirstmanwhoroseupagainsttheAristotelianphilosophywhenintheheightofhispower。Theauthorityofthatphilosophyhad，aswehaveshown，receivedafatalblowlongbeforehewasborn。Severalspeculators，amongwhomRamusisthebestknown，hadrecentlyattemptedtoformnewsects。Bacon’sownexpressionsaboutthestateofpublicopinioninthetimeofLutherareclearandstrong:\"Accedebat，\"sayshe，\"odiumetcontemptus，illisipsistemporibusortusergaScholasticos。\"Andagain，\"Scholasticorumdoctrinadespectuiprorsushabericoepittanquamasperaetbarbara。\"[BoththesepassagesareinthefirstbookoftheDeAugmentis。]ThepartwhichBaconplayedinthisgreatchangewasthepart，notofRobespierre，butofBonaparte。Theancientorderofthingshadbeensubverted。Somebigotsstillcherishedwithdevotedloyaltytheremembranceofthefallenmonarchy，andexertedthemselvestoeffectarestoration。Butthemajorityhadnosuchfeeling。Freed，yetnotknowinghowtousetheirfreedom，theypursuednodeterminatecourse，andhadfoundnoleadercapableofconductingthem。
Thatleaderatlengtharose。Thephilosophywhichhetaughtwasessentiallynew。Itdifferedfromthatofthecelebratedancientteachers，notmerelyinmethod，butalsoinobject。Itsobjectwasthegoodofmankind，inthesenseinwhichthemassofmankindalwayshaveunderstoodandalwayswillunderstandthewordgood。\"Meditor，\"saidBacon，\"instaurationemphilosophiaeejusmodiquaenihilinanisautabstractihabeat，quaequevitaehumanaeconditionesinmeliusprovehat。\"[RedargutioPhilosophiarum。]
ThedifferencebetweenthephilosophyofBaconandthatofhispredecessorscannot，wethink，bebetterillustratedthanbycomparinghisviewsonsomeimportantsubjectswiththoseofPlato。WeselectPlato，becauseweconceivethathedidmorethananyotherpersontowardsgivingtothemindsofspeculativementhatbentwhichtheyretainedtilltheyreceivedfromBaconanewimpulseinadiametricallyoppositedirection。
Itiscurioustoobservehowdifferentlythesegreatmenestimatedthevalueofeverykindofknowledge。TakeArithmeticforexample。Plato，afterspeakingslightlyoftheconvenienceofbeingabletoreckonandcomputeintheordinarytransactionsoflife，passestowhatheconsidersasafarmoreimportantadvantage。Thestudyofthepropertiesofnumbers，hetellsus，habituatesthemindtothecontemplationofpuretruth，andraisesusabovethematerialuniverse。Hewouldhavehisdisciplesapplythemselvestothisstudy，notthattheymaybeabletobuyorsell，notthattheymayqualifythemselvestobeshopkeepersortravellingmerchants，butthattheymaylearntowithdrawtheirmindsfromtheever—shiftingspectacleofthisvisibleandtangibleworld，andtofixthemontheimmutableessencesofthings。[Plato’sRepublic，Bookvii。]
Bacon，ontheotherhand，valuedthisbranchofknowledge，onlyonaccountofitsuseswithreferencetothatvisibleandtangibleworldwhichPlatosomuchdespised。HespeakswithscornofthemysticalarithmeticofthelaterPlatonists，andlamentsthepropensityofmankindtoemploy，onmeremattersofcuriosity，powersthewholeexertionofwhichisrequiredforpurposesofsolidadvantage。Headvisesarithmeticianstoleavethesetrifles，andtoemploythemselvesinframingconvenientexpressions，whichmaybeofuseinphysicalresearches。[DeAugmentis，Lib。iii。Cap。6。]
ThesamereasonswhichledPlatotorecommendthestudyofarithmeticledhimtorecommendalsothestudyofmathematics。
Thevulgarcrowdofgeometricians，hesays，willnotunderstandhim。Theyhavepracticealwaysinview。Theydonotknowthattherealuseofthescienceistoleadmentotheknowledgeofabstract，essential，eternaltruth。[Plato’sRepublic，Bookvii。]
Indeed，ifwearetobelievePlutarch，Platocarriedthisfeelingsofarthatheconsideredgeometryasdegradedbybeingappliedtoanypurposeofvulgarutility。Archytas，itseems，hadframedmachinesofextraordinarypoweronmathematicalprinciples。
[Plutarch，Sympos。viii。andLifeofMarcellus。ThemachinesofArchytasarealsomentionedbyAulusGelliusandDiogenesLaertius。]Platoremonstratedwithhisfriend，anddeclaredthatthiswastodegradeanobleintellectualexerciseintoalowcraft，fitonlyforcarpentersandwheelwrights。Theofficeofgeometry，hesaid，wastodisciplinethemind，nottoministertothebasewantsofthebody。Hisinterferencewassuccessful;andfromthattime，accordingtoPlutarch，thescienceofmechanicswasconsideredasunworthyoftheattentionofaphilosopher。
ArchimedesinalaterageimitatedandsurpassedArchytas。ButevenArchimedeswasnotfreefromtheprevailingnotionthatgeometrywasdegradedbybeingemployedtoproduceanythinguseful。Itwaswithdifficultythathewasinducedtostoopfromspeculationtopractice。Hewashalfashamedofthoseinventionswhichwerethewonderofhostilenations，andalwaysspokeofthemslightinglyasmereamusements，astriflesinwhichamathematicianmightbesufferedtorelaxhismindafterintenseapplicationtothehigherpartsofhisscience。
TheopinionofBacononthissubjectwasdiametricallyopposedtothatoftheancientphilosophers。Hevaluedgeometrychiefly，ifnotsolely，onaccountofthoseuses，whichtoPlatoappearedsobase。AnditisremarkablethatthelongerBaconlivedthestrongerthisfeelingbecame。Whenin1605hewrotethetwobooksontheAdvancementofLearning，hedweltontheadvantageswhichmankindderivedfrommixedmathematics;butheatthesametimeadmittedthatthebeneficialeffectproducedbymathematicalstudyontheintellect，thoughacollateraladvantage，was\"nolessworthythanthatwhichwasprincipalandintended。\"Butitisevidentthathisviewsunderwentachange。When，neartwentyyearslater，hepublishedtheDeAugmentis，whichistheTreatiseontheAdvancementofLearning，greatlyexpandedandcarefullycorrected，hemadeimportantalterationsinthepartwhichrelatedtomathematics。Hecondemnedwithseveritythehigh，pretensionsofthemathematicians，\"deliciasetfastummathematicorum。\"Assumingthewell—beingofthehumanracetobetheendofknowledge，[Usuietcommodishominumconsulimus。]hepronouncedthatmathematicalsciencecouldclaimnohigherrankthanthatofanappendageorauxiliarytoothersciences。
Mathematicalscience，hesays，isthehandmaidofnaturalphilosophy;sheoughttodemeanherselfassuch;andhedeclaresthathecannotconceivebywhatillchanceithashappenedthatshepresumestoclaimprecedenceoverhermistress。Hepredicts——
apredictionwhichwouldhavemadePlatoshudder——thatasmoreandmorediscoveriesaremadeinphysics，therewillbemoreandmorebranchesofmixedmathematics。Ofthatcollateraladvantagethevalueofwhich，twentyyearsbefore，heratedsohighly，hesaysnotoneword。Thisomissioncannothavebeentheeffectofmereinadvertence。Hisowntreatisewasbeforehim。Fromthattreatisehedeliberatelyexpungedwhateverwasfavourabletothestudyofpuremathematics，andinsertedseveralkeenreflectionsontheardentvotariesofthatstudy。Thisfact，inouropinion，admitsofonlyoneexplanation。Bacon’sloveofthosepursuitswhichdirectlytendtoimprovetheconditionofmankind，andhisjealousyofallpursuitsmerelycurious，hadgrownuponhim，andhad，itmaybe，becomeimmoderate。Hewasafraidofusinganyexpressionwhichmighthavetheeffectofinducinganymanoftalentstoemployinspeculations，usefulonlytothemindofthespeculator，asinglehourwhichmightbeemployedinextendingtheempireofmanovermatter。[ComparethepassagerelatingtomathematicsintheSecondBookoftheAdvancementofLearningwiththeDeAugmentisLib。iii。Cap。6。]IfBaconerredhere，wemustacknowledgethatwegreatlypreferhiserrortotheoppositeerrorofPlato。Wehavenopatiencewithaphilosophywhich，likethoseRomanmatronswhoswallowedabortivesinordertopreservetheirshapes，takespainstobebarrenforfearofbeinghomely。
Letuspasstoastronomy。ThiswasoneofthescienceswhichPlatoexhortedhisdisciplestolearn，butforreasonsfarremovedfromcommonhabitsofthinking。\"Shallwesetdownastronomy，\"saysSocrates，\"amongthesubjectsofstudy？\"
[Plato’sRepublic，Bookvii。]\"Ithinkso，\"answershisyoungfriendGlaucon:\"toknowsomethingabouttheseasons，themonths，andtheyearsisofuseformilitarypurposes，aswellasforagricultureandnavigation。\"\"Itamusesme，\"saysSocrates，\"toseehowafraidyouare，lestthecommonherdofpeopleshouldaccuseyouofrecommendinguselessstudies。\"Hethenproceeds，inthatpureandmagnificentdictionwhich，asCicerosaid，JupiterwoulduseifJupiterspokeGreek，toexplain，thattheuseofastronomyisnottoaddtothevulgarcomfortsoflife，buttoassistinraisingthemindtothecontemplationofthingswhicharetobeperceivedbythepureintellectalone。TheknowledgeoftheactualmotionsoftheheavenlybodiesSocratesconsidersasoflittlevalue。Theappearanceswhichmaketheskybeautifulatnightare，hetellsus，likethefigureswhichageometriciandrawsonthesand，mereexamples，merehelpstofeebleminds。Wemustgetbeyondthem;wemustneglectthem;wemustattaintoanastronomywhichisasindependentoftheactualstarsasgeometricaltruthisindependentofthelinesofanill—drawndiagram。Thisis，weimagine，verynearlyifnotexactly，theastronomywhichBaconcomparedtotheoxofPrometheus，[DeAugmentis，Lib。iii。Cap。4]asleek，well—shapedhide，stuffedwithrubbish，goodlytolookat，butcontainingnothingtoeat。
Hecomplainedthatastronomyhad，toitsgreatinjury，beenseparatedfromnaturalphilosophy，ofwhichitwasoneofthenoblestprovinces，andannexedtothedomainofmathematics。Theworldstoodinneed，hesaid，ofaverydifferentastronomy，ofalivingastronomy，[Astronomiaviva。]ofanastronomywhichshouldsetforththenature，themotion，andtheinfluencesoftheheavenlybodies，astheyreallyare。[Quaesubstantiametmotumetinfluxumecelestium，proutreverasuntproponat。\"ComparethislanguagewithPlato’s\"tad’entoouranoeasomen。\"]
Onthegreatestandmostusefulofallhumaninventions，theinventionofalphabeticalwriting，Platodidnotlookwithmuchcomplacency。Heseemstohavethoughtthattheuseoflettershadoperatedonthehumanmindastheuseofthego—cartinlearningtowalk，orofcorksinlearningtoswim，issaidtooperateonthehumanbody。Itwasasupportwhich，inhisopinion，soonbecameindispensabletothosewhousedit，whichmadevigorousexertionfirstunnecessaryandthenimpossible。Thepowersoftheintellectwould，heconceived，havebeenmorefullydevelopedwithoutthisdelusiveaid。Menwouldhavebeencompelledtoexercisetheunderstandingandthememory，and，bydeepandassiduousmeditation，tomaketruththoroughlytheirown。Now，onthecontrary，muchknowledgeistracedonpaper，butlittleisengravedinthesoul。Amaniscertainthathecanfindinformationatamoment’snoticewhenhewantsit。Hethereforesuffersittofadefromhismind。Suchamancannotinstrictnessbesaidtoknowanything。Hehastheshowwithouttherealityofwisdom。TheseopinionsPlatohasputintothemouthofanancientkingofEgypt。[Plato’sPhaedrus。]Butitisevidentfromthecontextthattheywerehisown;andsotheywereunderstoodtobebyQuinctilian。[Quinctilian，xi。]IndeedtheyareinperfectaccordancewiththewholePlatonicsystem。
Bacon’sviews，asmayeasilybesupposed，werewidelydifferent。[DeAugmentis，Lib。v。Cap。5。]Thepowersofthememory，heobserves，withoutthehelpofwriting，candolittletowardstheadvancementofanyusefulscience。Heacknowledgesthatthememorymaybedisciplinedtosuchapointastobeabletoperformveryextraordinaryfeats。Butonsuchfeatshesetslittlevalue。Thehabitsofhismind，hetellsus，aresuchthatheisnotdisposedtoratehighlyanyaccomplishment，howeverrare，whichisofnopracticalusetomankind。Astotheseprodigiousachievementsofthememory，heranksthemwiththeexhibitionsofrope—dancersandtumblers。\"Thesetwoperformances，\"hesays，\"aremuchofthesamesort。Theoneisanabuseofthepowersofthebody;theotherisanabuseofthepowersofthemind。Bothmayperhapsexciteourwonder;butneitherisentitledtoourrespect。\"
ToPlato，thescienceofmedicineappearedtobeofverydisputableadvantages。[Plato’sRepublic，Bookiii。]Hedidnotindeedobjecttoquickcuresforacutedisorders，orforinjuriesproducedbyaccidents。Buttheartwhichresiststheslowsapofachronicdisease，whichrepairsframesenervatedbylust，swollenbygluttony，orinflamedbywine，whichencouragessensualitybymitigatingthenaturalpunishmentofthesensualist，andprolongsexistencewhentheintellecthasceasedtoretainitsentireenergy，hadnoshareofhisesteem。Alifeprotractedbymedicalskillhepronouncedtobealongdeath。Theexerciseoftheartofmedicineought，hesaid，tobetolerated，sofarasthatartmayservetocuretheoccasionaldistempersofmenwhoseconstitutionsaregood。Astothosewhohavebadconstitutions，letthemdie;andthesoonerthebetter。Suchmenareunfitforwar，formagistracy，forthemanagementoftheirdomesticaffairs，forseverestudyandspeculation。Iftheyengageinanyvigorousmentalexercise，theyaretroubledwithgiddinessandfulnessofthehead，allwhichtheylaytotheaccountofphilosophy。Thebestthingthatcanhappentosuchwretchesistohavedonewithlifeatonce。Hequotesmythicalauthorityinsupportofthisdoctrine;andremindshisdisciplesthatthepracticeofthesonsofAeculapius，asdescribedbyHomer，extendedonlytothecureofexternalinjuries。
FardifferentwasthephilosophyofBacon。Ofallthesciences，thatwhichheseemstohaveregardedwiththegreatestinterestwasthesciencewhich，inPlato’sopinion，wouldnotbetoleratedinawell—regulatedcommunity。TomakemenperfectwasnopartofBacon’splan。Hishumbleaimwastomakeimperfectmencomfortable。ThebeneficenceofhisphilosophyresembledthebeneficenceofthecommonFather，whosesunrisesontheevilandthegood，whoseraindescendsforthejustandtheunjust。InPlato’sopinionmanwasmadeforphilosophy;inBacon’sopinionphilosophywasmadeforman;itwasameanstoanend;andthatendwastoincreasethepleasuresandtomitigatethepainsofmillionswhoarenotandcannotbephilosophers。Thatavaletudinarianwhotookgreatpleasureinbeingwheeledalonghisterrace，whorelishedhisboiledchicken，andhisweakwineandwater，andwhoenjoyedaheartylaughovertheQueenofNavarre’stales，shouldbetreatedasacaputlupinumbecausehecouldnotreadtheTimaeuswithoutaheadache，wasanotionwhichthehumanespiritoftheEnglishschoolofwisdomaltogetherrejected。Baconwouldnothavethoughtitbeneaththedignityofaphilosophertocontriveanimprovedgardenchairforsuchavaletudinarian，todevisesomewayofrenderinghismedicinesmorepalatable，toinventrepastswhichhemightenjoy，andpillowsonwhichhemightsleepsoundly;andthisthoughtheremightnotbethesmallesthopethatthemindofthepoorinvalidwouldeverrisetothecontemplationoftheidealbeautifulandtheidealgood。AsPlatohadcitedthereligiouslegendsofGreecetojustifyhiscontemptforthemorereconditepartsoftheheartofhealing，BaconvindicatedthedignityofthatartbyappealingtotheexampleofChrist，andremindedmenthatthegreatphysicianofthesouldidnotdisdaintobealsothephysicianofthebody。[DeAugmentis，Lib，iv。Cap。2]
Whenwepassfromthescienceofmedicinetothatoflegislation，wefindthesamedifferencebetweenthesystemsofthesetwogreatmen。Plato，atthecommencementoftheDialogueonLaws，laysitdownasafundamentalprinciplethattheendoflegislationistomakemenvirtuous。Itisunnecessarytopointouttheextravagantconclusionstowhichsuchapropositionleads。Baconwellknewtohowgreatanextentthehappinessofeverysocietymustdependonthevirtueofitsmembers;andhealsoknewwhatlegislatorscanandwhattheycannotdoforthepurposeofpromotingvirtue。Theviewwhichhehasgivenoftheendoflegislation，andoftheprincipalmeansfortheattainmentofthatend，hasalwaysseemedtouseminentlyhappy，evenamongthemanyhappypassagesofthesamekindwithwhichhisworksabound。\"Finisetscopusquemlegesintueriatqueadquemjussionesetsanctionessuasdirigeredebent，nonaliusestquamutcivesfeliciterdegant。Idfietsipietateetreligionerecteinstituti，moribushonesti，armisadversushostesexternostuti，legumauxilioadversusseditionesetprivatasinjuriasmuniti，imperioetmagistratibusobsequentes，copiisetopibuslocupletesetflorentesfuerint。\"[DeAugmentis，Lib。viii。Cap。3，Aph。5。]
Theendisthewell—beingofthepeople。Themeansaretheimpartingofmoralandreligiouseducation;theprovidingofeverythingnecessaryfordefenceagainstforeignenemies;themaintainingofinternalorder;theestablishingofajudicial，financial，andcommercialsystem，underwhichwealthmayberapidlyaccumulatedandsecurelyenjoyed。
Evenwithrespecttotheforminwhichlawsoughttobedrawn，thereisaremarkabledifferenceofopinionbetweentheGreekandtheEnglishman。Platothoughtapreambleessential;Baconthoughtitmischievous。Eachwasconsistentwithhimself。Plato，consideringthemoralimprovementofthepeopleastheendoflegislation，justlyinferredthatalawwhichcommandedandthreatened，butwhichneitherconvincedthereason，nortouchedtheheart，mustbeamostimperfectlaw。Hewasnotcontentwithdeterringfromtheftamanwhostillcontinuedtobeathiefatheart，withrestrainingasonwhohatedhismotherfrombeatinghismother。Theonlyobedienceonwhichhesetmuchvaluewastheobediencewhichanenlightenedunderstandingyieldstoreason，andwhichavirtuousdispositionyieldstopreceptsofvirtue。Hereallyseemstohavebelievedthat，byprefixingtoeverylawaneloquentandpatheticexhortation，heshould，toagreatextent，renderpenalenactmentssuperfluous。Baconentertainednosuchromantichopes;andhewellknewthepracticalinconveniencesofthecoursewhichPlatorecommended。\"Nequenobis，\"sayshe，\"prologilegumquiineptiolimhabitisunt，etlegesintroducuntdisputantesnonjubentes，utiqueplacerent，sipriscosmoresferrepossemus……Quantumfieripotestprologievitentur，etlexincipiatajussione。\"[Ibid。，Lib。viii。Cap。3，Aph。69。]
Eachofthegreatmenwhomwehavecomparedintendedtoillustratehissystembyaphilosophicalromance;andeachlefthisromanceimperfect。HadPlatolivedtofinishtheCritias，acomparisonbetweenthatnoblefictionandthenewAtlantiswouldprobablyhavefurnisheduswithstillmorestrikinginstancesthananywhichwehavegiven。ItisamusingtothinkwithwhathorrorhewouldhaveseensuchaninstitutionasSolomon’sHouserisinginhisrepublic:withwhatvehemencehewouldhaveorderedthebrew—houses，theperfume—houses，andthedispensatoriestobepulleddown——andwithwhatinexorablerigourhewouldhavedrivenbeyondthefrontieralltheFellowsoftheCollege，MerchantsofLightandDepredators，LampsandPioneers。
Tosumupthewhole，weshouldsaythattheaimofthePlatonicphilosophywastoexaltmanintoagod。TheaimoftheBaconianphilosophywastoprovidemanwithwhatherequireswhilehecontinuestobeman。TheaimofthePlatonicphilosophywastoraiseusfarabovevulgarwants。TheaimoftheBaconianphilosophywastosupplyourvulgarwants。Theformeraimwasnoble;butthelatterwasattainable。Platodrewagoodbow;but，likeAcestesinVirgil，heaimedatthestars;andtherefore，thoughtherewasnowantofstrengthorskill，theshotwasthrownaway。Hisarrowwasindeedfollowedbyatrackofdazzlingradiance，butitstrucknothing。
\"VolansliquidisinnubibusarsitarundoSignavitqueviamflammis，tenuisquerecessitConsumtainventos。\"
Baconfixedhiseyeonamarkwhichwasplacedontheearth，andwithinbow—shot，andhititinthewhite。ThephilosophyofPlatobeganinwordsandendedinwords，noblewordsindeed，wordssuchasweretobeexpectedfromthefinestofhumanintellectsexercisingboundlessdominionoverthefinestofhumanlanguages。
ThephilosophyofBaconbeganinobservationsandendedinarts。
Theboastoftheancientphilosopherswasthattheirdoctrineformedthemindsofmentoahighdegreeofwisdomandvirtue。
Thiswasindeedtheonlypracticalgoodwhichthemostcelebratedofthoseteachersevenpretendedtoeffect;andundoubtedly，iftheyhadeffectedthis，theywouldhavedeservedfarhigherpraisethaniftheyhaddiscoveredthemostsalutarymedicinesorconstructedthemostpowerfulmachines。Butthetruthisthat，inthoseverymattersinwhichalonetheyprofessedtodoanygoodtomankind，inthoseverymattersforthesakeofwhichtheyneglectedallthevulgarinterestsofmankind，theydidnothing，orworsethannothing。Theypromisedwhatwasimpracticable;theydespisedwhatwaspracticable;theyfilledtheworldwithlongwordsandlongbeards;andtheyleftitaswickedandasignorantastheyfoundit。
AnacreinMiddlesexisbetterthanaprincipalityinUtopia。Thesmallestactualgoodisbetterthanthemostmagnificentpromisesofimpossibilities。ThewisemanoftheStoicswould，nodoubt，beagranderobjectthanasteam—engine。Buttherearesteam—
engines。AndthewisemanoftheStoicsisyettobeborn。A
philosophywhichshouldenableamantofeelperfectlyhappywhileinagoniesofpainwouldbebetterthanaphilosophywhichassuagespain。Butweknowthatthereareremedieswhichwillassuagepain;andweknowthattheancientsageslikedthetoothachejustaslittleastheirneighbours。Aphilosophywhichshouldextinguishcupiditywouldbebetterthanaphilosophywhichshoulddeviselawsforthesecurityofproperty。Butitispossibletomakelawswhichshall，toaverygreatextent，secureproperty。Andwedonotunderstandhowanymotiveswhichtheancientphilosophyfurnishedcouldextinguishcupidity。Weknowindeedthatthephilosopherswerenobetterthanothermen。Fromthetestimonyoffriendsaswellasoffoes，fromtheconfessionsofEpictetusandSeneca，aswellasfromthesneersofLucianandthefierceinvectivesofJuvenal，itisplainthattheseteachersofvirtuehadallthevicesoftheirneighbours，withtheadditionalviceofhypocrisy。SomepeoplemaythinktheobjectoftheBaconianphilosophyalowobject，buttheycannotdenythat，highorlow，ithasbeenattained。TheycannotdenythateveryyearmakesanadditiontowhatBaconcalled\"fruit。\"Theycannotdenythatmankindhavemade，andaremaking，greatandconstantprogressintheroadwhichhepointedouttothem。Wasthereanysuchprogressivemovementamongtheancientphilosophers？Aftertheyhadbeendeclaimingeighthundredyears，hadtheymadetheworldbetterthanwhentheybegan？Ourbeliefisthat，amongthephilosophersthemselves，insteadofaprogressiveimprovementtherewasaprogressivedegeneracy。AnabjectsuperstitionwhichDemocritusorAnaxagoraswouldhaverejectedwithscorn，addedthelastdisgracetothelongdotageoftheStoicandPlatonicschools。Thoseunsuccessfulattemptstoarticulatewhicharesodelightfulandinterestinginachildshockanddisgustinanagedparalytic;andinthesameway，thosewildandmythologicalfictionswhichcharmus，whenwehearthemlispedbyGreekpoetryinitsinfancy，exciteamixedsensationofpityandloathing，whenmumbledbyGreekphilosophyinitsoldage。Weknowthatguns，cutlery，spy—glasses，clocks，arebetterinourtimethantheywereinthetimeofourfathers，andwerebetterinthetimeofourfathersthantheywereinthetimeofourgrandfathers。Wemight，therefore，beinclinedtothinkthat，whenaphilosophywhichboastedthatitsobjectwastheelevationandpurificationofthemind，andwhichforthisobjectneglectedthesordidofficeofministeringtothecomfortsofthebody，hadflourishedinthehighesthonourduringmanyhundredsofyears，avastmoralameliorationmusthavetakenplace。Wasitso？LookattheschoolsofthiswisdomfourcenturiesbeforetheChristianeraandfourcenturiesafterthatera。Comparethemenwhomthoseschoolsformedatthosetwoperiods。ComparePlatoandLibanius。
ComparePericlesandJulian。Thisphilosophyconfessed，nayboasted，thatforeveryendbutoneitwasuseless。Haditattainedthatoneend？
SupposethatJustinian，whenheclosedtheschoolsofAthens，hadcalledonthelastfewsageswhostillhauntedthePortico，andlingeredroundtheancientplane—trees，toshowtheirtitletopublicveneration:supposethathehadsaid:\"Athousandyearshaveelapsedsince，inthisfamouscity，SocratesposedProtagorasandHippias;duringthosethousandyearsalargeproportionoftheablestmenofeverygenerationhasbeenemployedinconstanteffortstobringtoperfectionthephilosophywhichyouteach，thatphilosophyhasbeenmunificentlypatronisedbythepowerful;itsprofessorshavebeenheldinthehighestesteembythepublic;ithasdrawntoitselfalmostallthesapandvigourofthehumanintellect:andwhathasiteffected？Whatprofitabletruthhasittaughtuswhichweshouldnotequallyhaveknownwithoutit？Whathasitenabledustodowhichweshouldnothavebeenequallyabletodowithoutit？\"
Suchquestions，wesuspect，wouldhavepuzzledSimpliciusandIsidore。AskafollowerofBaconwhatthenewphilosophy，asitwascalledinthetimeofCharlestheSecond，haseffectedformankind，andhisanswerisready;\"Ithaslengthenedlife;ithasmitigatedpain;ithasextinguisheddiseases;ithasincreasedthefertilityofthesoil;ithasgivennewsecuritiestothemariner;ithasfurnishednewarmstothewarrior;ithasspannedgreatriversandestuarieswithbridgesofformunknowntoourfathers;ithasguidedthethunderboltinnocuouslyfromheaventoearth;ithaslightedupthenightwiththesplendouroftheday;
ithasextendedtherangeofthehumanvision;ithasmultipliedthepowerofthehumanmuscles;ithasacceleratedmotion;ithasannihilateddistance;ithasfacilitatedintercourse，correspondence，allfriendlyoffices，alldespatchofbusiness;
ithasenabledmantodescendtothedepthsofthesea，tosoarintotheair，topenetratesecurelyintothenoxiousrecessesoftheearth，totraversethelandincarswhichwhirlalongwithouthorses，andtheoceaninshipswhichruntenknotsanhouragainstthewind。Thesearebutapartofitsfruits，andofitsfirstfruits。Foritisaphilosophywhichneverrests，whichhasneverattained，whichisneverperfect。Itslawisprogress。A
pointwhichyesterdaywasinvisibleisitsgoalto—day，andwillbeitsstarting—postto—morrow。\"
GreatandvariousasthepowersofBaconwere，heoweshiswideanddurablefamechieflytothis，thatallthosepowersreceivedtheirdirectionfromcommonsense。Hisloveofthevulgaruseful，hisstrongsympathywiththepopularnotionsofgoodandevil，andtheopennesswithwhichheavowedthatsympathy，arethesecretofhisinfluence。Therewasinhissystemnocant，noillusion。Hehadnoanointingforbrokenbones，nofinetheoriesdefinibus，noargumentstopersuademenoutoftheirsenses。Heknewthatmen，andphilosophersaswellasothermen，doactuallylovelife，health，comfort，honour，security，thesocietyoffriends，anddoactuallydislikedeath，sickness，pain，poverty，disgrace，danger，separationfromthosetowhomtheyareattached。Heknewthatreligion，thoughitoftenregulatesandmoderatesthesefeelings，seldomeradicatesthem;nordidhethinkitdesirableformankindthattheyshouldbeeradicated。
TheplanoferadicatingthembyconceitslikethoseofSeneca，orsyllogismslikethoseofChrysippus，wastoopreposteroustobeforamomententertainedbyamindlikehis。Hedidnotunderstandwhatwisdomtherecouldbeinchangingnameswhereitwasimpossibletochangethings;indenyingthatblindness，hunger，thegout，therack，wereevils，andcallingthemapoproegmenainrefusingtoacknowledgethathealth，safety，plenty，weregoodthings，anddubbingthembythenameofadiaphora。Inhisopinionsonallthesesubjects，hewasnotaStoic，noranEpicurean，noranAcademic，butwhatwouldhavebeencalledbyStoics，Epicureans，andAcademicsamereidiotes，amerecommonman。Anditwaspreciselybecausehewassothathisnamemakessogreatanerainthehistoryoftheworld。Itwasbecausehedugdeepthathewasabletopilehigh。Itwasbecause，inordertolayhisfoundations，hewentdownintothosepartsofhumannaturewhichlielow，butwhicharenotliabletochange，thatthefabricwhichherearedhasrisentosostatelyanelevation，andstandswithsuchimmovablestrength。
Wehavesometimesthoughtthatanamusingfictionmightbewritten，inwhichadiscipleofEpictetusandadiscipleofBaconshouldbeintroducedasfellow—travellers。Theycometoavillagewherethesmallpoxhasjustbeguntorage，andfindhousesshutup，intercoursesuspended，thesickabandoned，mothersweepinginterrorovertheirchildren。TheStoicassuresthedismayedpopulationthatthereisnothingbadinthesmallpox，andthattoawisemandisease，deformity，death，thelossoffriends，arenotevils。TheBaconiantakesoutalancetandbeginstovaccinate。Theyfindabodyofminersingreatdismay。Anexplosionofnoisomevapourshasjustkilledmanyofthosewhowereatwork;andthesurvivorsareafraidtoventureintothecavern。TheStoicassuresthemthatsuchanaccidentisnothingbutamereapoproegmenon。TheBaconian，whohasnosuchfinewordathiscommand，contentshimselfwithdevisingasafety—lamp。
Theyfindashipwreckedmerchantwringinghishandsontheshore。
Hisvesselwithaninestimablecargohasjustgonedown，andheisreducedinamomentfromopulencetobeggary。TheStoicexhortshimnottoseekhappinessinthingswhichliewithouthimself，andrepeatsthewholechapterofEpictetusprostoustenaporiandediokotas。TheBaconianconstructsadiving—bell，goesdowninit，andreturnswiththemostpreciouseffectsfromthewreck。Itwouldbeeasytomultiplyillustrationsofthedifferencebetweenthephilosophyofthornsandthephilosophyoffruit，thephilosophyofwordsandthephilosophyofworks。
Baconhasbeenaccusedofoverratingtheimportanceofthosescienceswhichministertothephysicalwell—beingofman，andofunderratingtheimportanceofmoralphilosophy;anditcannotbedeniedthatpersonswhoreadtheNovumOrganumandtheDeAugmentis，withoutadvertingtothecircumstancesunderwhichthoseworkswerewritten，willfindmuchthatmayseemtocountenancetheaccusation。Itiscertain，however，that，thoughinpracticeheoftenwentverywrong，andthough，ashishistoricalworkandhisessaysprove，hedidnothold，evenintheory，verystrictopinionsonpointsofpoliticalmorality，hewasfartoowiseamannottoknowhowmuchourwell—beingdependsontheregulationofourminds。Theworldforwhichhewishedwasnot，assomepeopleseemtoimagine，aworldofwater—
wheels，power—looms，steam—carriages，sensualists，andknaves。HewouldhavebeenasreadyasZenohimselftomaintainthatnobodilycomfortswhichcouldbedevisedbytheskillandlabourofahundredgenerationswouldgivehappinesstoamanwhosemindwasunderthetyrannyoflicentiousappetite，ofenvy，ofhatred，oroffear。Ifhesometimesappearedtoascribeimportancetooexclusivelytotheartswhichincreasetheoutwardcomfortsofourspecies，thereasonisplain。Thoseartshadbeenmostundulydepreciated。Theyhadbeenrepresentedasunworthyoftheattentionofamanofliberaleducation。\"Cogitavit，\"saysBaconofhimself，\"eamesseopinionemsiveaestimationemhumidametdamnosam，minuinempemajestatemmentishumanae，siinexperimentisetrebusparticularibus，sensuisubjectis，etinmateriaterminatis，diuacmultumversetur:praesertimcumhujusmodiresadinquirendumlaboriosae，admeditandumignobiles，addiscendumasperae，adpracticamilliberales，numeroinfinitae，etsubtilitatepusillaeviderisoleant，etobhujusmodiconditiones，gloriaeartiumminussintaccommodatae。\"[Cogitataetvisa。TheexpressionopiniohumidamaysurpriseareadernotaccustomedtoBacon’sstyle。TheallusionistothemaximofHeraclitustheobscure:\"Drylightisthebest。\"Bydrylight，Baconunderstoodthelightoftheintellect，notobscuredbythemistsofpassion，interest，orprejudice。]Thisopinionseemedtohim\"omniainfamiliahumanaturbasse。\"Ithadundoubtedlycausedmanyartswhichwereofthegreatestutility，andwhichweresusceptibleofthegreatestimprovements，tobeneglectedbyspeculators，andabandonedtojoiners，masons，smiths，weavers，apothecaries。Itwasnecessarytoassertthedignityofthosearts，tobringthemprominentlyforward，toproclaimthat，astheyhaveamostseriouseffectonhumanhappiness，theyarenotunworthyoftheattentionofthehighesthumanintellects。Again，itwasbyillustrationsdrawnfromtheseartsthatBaconcouldmosteasilyillustratehisprinciples。Itwasbyimprovementseffectedintheseartsthatthesoundnessofhisprinciplescouldbemostspeedilyanddecisivelybroughttothetest，andmademanifesttocommonunderstandings。Heactedlikeawisecommanderwhothinseveryotherpartofhislinetostrengthenapointwheretheenemyisattackingwithpeculiarfury，andonthefateofwhichtheeventofthebattleseemslikelytodepend。IntheNovumOrganum，however，hedistinctlyandmosttrulydeclaresthathisphilosophyisnolessaMoralthanaNaturalPhilosophy，that，thoughhisillustrationsaredrawnfromphysicalscience，theprincipleswhichthoseillustrationsareintendedtoexplainarejustasapplicabletoethicalandpoliticalinquiriesastoinquiriesintothenatureofheatandvegetation。[NovumOrganum，Lib，I。Aph127。]
Hefrequentlytreatedofmoralsubjects;andhebroughttothosesubjectsthatspiritwhichwastheessenceofhiswholesystem。
HehasleftusmanyadmirablepracticableobservationsonwhathesomewhatquaintlycalledtheGeorgicsofthemind，onthementalculturewhichtendstoproducegooddispositions。Somepersons，hesaid，mightaccusehimofspendinglabouronamattersosimplethathispredecessorshadpasseditbywithcontempt。Hedesiredsuchpersonstorememberthathehadfromthefirstannouncedtheobjectsofhissearchtobenotthesplendidandthesurprising，buttheusefulandthetrue，notthedeludingdreamswhichgoforththroughtheshiningportalofivory，butthehumblerrealitiesofthegateofhorn。[DeAugmentis，Lib。
vii。Cap。3。]
Truetothisprinciple，heindulgedinnorantsaboutthefitnessofthings，theall—sufficiencyofvirtue，andthedignityofhumannature。Hedealtnotatallinresoundingnothings，suchasthosewithwhichBolingbrokepretendedtocomforthimselfinexile，andinwhichCicerovainlysoughtconsolationafterthelossofTullia。Thecasuisticalsubtiltieswhichoccupiedtheattentionofthekeenestspiritsofhisagehad，itshouldseem，noattractionsforhim。ThedoctorswhomEscobarafterwardscomparedtothefourbeastsandthefour—and—twentyeldersintheApocalypseBacondismissedwithmostcontemptuousbrevity。
\"Inanesplerumqueevaduntetfutiles。\"[Ibid。Lib。vii。Cap。2。]
Nordidheevermeddlewiththoseenigmaswhichhavepuzzledhundredsofgenerations，andwillpuzzlehundredsmore。Hesaidnothingaboutthegroundsofmoralobligation，orthefreedomofthehumanwill。HehadnoinclinationtoemployhimselfinlaboursresemblingthoseofthedamnedintheGrecianTartarus，tospinforeveronthesamewheelroundthesamepivot，togapeforeverafterthesamedeludingclusters，topourwaterforeverintothesamebottomlessbuckets，topaceforevertoandfroonthesamewearisomepathafterthesamerecoilingstone。Heexhortedhisdisciplestoprosecuteresearchesofaverydifferentdescription，toconsidermoralscienceasapracticalscience，ascienceofwhichtheobjectwastocurethediseasesandperturbationsofthemind，andwhichcouldbeimprovedonlybyamethodanalogoustothatwhichhasimprovedmedicineandsurgery。Moralphilosophersought，hesaid，tosetthemselvesvigorouslytoworkforthepurposeofdiscoveringwhataretheactualeffectsproducedonthehumancharacterbyparticularmodesofeducation，bytheindulgenceofparticularhabits，bythestudyofparticularbooks，bysociety，byemulation，byimitation。Thenwemighthopetofindoutwhatmodeoftrainingwasmostlikelytopreserveandrestoremoralhealth。[Ibid。:
Lib。vii。Cap。3。]
Whathewasasanaturalphilosopherandamoralphilosopher，thathewasalsoasatheologian。Hewas，weareconvinced，asincerebelieverinthedivineauthorityoftheChristianrevelation。Nothingcanbefoundinhiswritings，orinanyotherwritings，moreeloquentandpatheticthansomepassageswhichwereapparentlywrittenundertheinfluenceofstrongdevotionalfeeling。HelovedtodwellonthepoweroftheChristianreligiontoeffectmuchthattheancientphilosopherscouldonlypromise。Helovedtoconsiderthatreligionasthebondofcharity，thecurbofevilpassions，theconsolationofthewretched，thesupportofthetimid，thehopeofthedying。