Hon's 1 Year
Course: Introduction to Prose
Most important broad questions with answers
Q: Show Bacon as a man of practical wisdom /Bacon as a moralist with reference to "Of Studies". ***
Answer: Francis Bacon (1561-1626) is one of the most impressive figures in English literature. Bacon reveals him in his essays as a practical moralist full of worldly wisdom.
Like outright the utilitarian insists that knowledge should be judged by its results. The wisdom contained in his essays concerned the harsh realities of life. There is no doubt that Bacon's essays are a treasure trove of worldly wisdom. His essay "On Studies" is a wonderful example of Bacon's practical wisdom and utilitarian thinking.
A critical analysis of the essay is needed to mark Bacon as a man of practical wisdom and utilitarian thinking.Bacon's approach to studies is purely utilitarian. In his essay "On studies", he does not emphasize one study in itself, but so that the benefit it can provide to a person is supplemented by practical experience.
In the essay "On Studies", Bacon offers some practical wisdom regarding studies. Its utilitarian philosophy is nicely reflected in this essay. Bacon says:
"To spend too much time in study is laziness, to use them too much for ornament is affectation, to judge entirely by their rules is the humor of a scholar."
What Bacon means here is that a man who spends too much time studying is a lazy man. A man who uses too much book knowledge to embellish his speech is a fraud. A man who strictly follows the rules learned from a book in his daily life is an eccentric scholar. So Bacon's advice is that a man should spend a reasonable amount of time studying and not be overwhelmed by book knowledge. Bacon's approach to studies is therefore pragmatic and utilitarian.
Studying develops and improves a person's natural abilities and is in turn enriched by practical experience. Only book knowledge or only practical knowledge will not help. One should have both. In "Of Studies," Bacon classifies books for purposes of reading. There are certain books that should be read in parts. There are books that should be read quickly. There are only a small number of books that deserve to be read thoroughly and carefully. Thus, knowledge and wisdom are provided by only a small number of books. In the essay "On Studies" Bacon makes the following remarks to show his opinion on the utility of reading books----
"Reading makes a man full, counsel a ready man, and writing a precise man"
Here, Bacon says that reading, writing, and conversing with one's fellows are essential to the improvement and development of one's language skills.As to the proper method of reading books, Bacon says,
"Read not to contradict and refute, nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find talk. And discourse, but to weigh and reason".
Those who wish to derive real benefit from their studies should not read only to find arguments to discuss with others and refute what others say, nor should they study to embellish their conversation. Rather, they should think and reflect on what they have studied to improve their judgment. They should not accept as truth what they find in books. They should research it carefully and from their own conclusion.
In the light of the above discussion, we can say that Francis Bacon is a man of practical wisdom. He is undoubtedly a moralist, a pragmatist and a utilitarian. In his essay "On Studies" he advises about studying in a practical way. In fact, his essays are the treasury of the world wisdom.
****The End****
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