Of the advancement and proficiencie of learning: or the partitions of sciences nine books / Written in Latin by the most eminent, illustrious and famous Lord Francis Bacon, baron of Verulam, viscount St. Alban, counsellour of estate and lord chancellor of England, interpreted by Gilbert Wats.

  • Bacon, Francis, 1561-1626. De augmentis scientiarum. English
Date:
1674
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Of the advancement and proficiencie of learning: or the partitions of sciences nine books / Written in Latin by the most eminent, illustrious and famous Lord Francis Bacon, baron of Verulam, viscount St. Alban, counsellour of estate and lord chancellor of England, interpreted by Gilbert Wats. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/440
    FAVOURABLE HE intended Apologetick, for the In« ftauratiort of Sciences, and the juft if- cation of this Author, which Jhould hav% been prefix'd this work, as a preparation thereto} is ?iot publiffot, Motiver to this refolution, were divers, whereoffome are very concerning, Apologe tic ksjf<?r/W& Authors and fuch enterprifes are entertained with jealoufies, as if they threatned an innovation in the ftate of Learning ; by reverfing the judgements of Antiquity, and the Placits of the Modern * and by bringing in a new Primum Mobile, into the lntellettual Globe of Sciences , to the fubverfion of the Arts received. But thefe are groundlefs fears, fancied by fuch, who either underftand not the intention of this at¬ tempt or, engag'd in ^Profeffory way , fnfpeB their pro¬ fit and reputation to be in danger, if fuch defigns jhould take ejfeSl. Our Author protefts againttfucb daring vanities,the railing of any new Seft,upon the ruins of Antiquity \and every where endeavours to improve the labours of Ancient and Modern Writers,and fo mu ft he do who defends him,if he mderftands the bufinefs he goes about,The point is not,touch¬ ing what is already done nor of the Abilities of the Agents) nor of the capacity of their Inftruments \ which could not be undertaken without emulous comparisonspoth of Perfons, A- Bions and Things : but the point is touching propagation and advancement of Knowledgesthe improvement, and not the confervation only of the Patrimony of our AnceHors . and that by opening to the underftanding a different way-, than hath been known to former Ages and clearing than glafs to the letting in of a more plentiful light. The ways and ends of thefe two knowledges (I mean of what we have* and of what we may have) thus different j and the ptinci- : ' £B] &*i
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3