The Works of Francis Bacon

The complete writings of English philosopher Francis Bacon are arranged according to subject matter in this 1857–74 edition.

Francis Bacon (Author), James Spedding (Edited by), Robert Leslie Ellis (Edited by), Douglas Denon Heath (Edited by)

9781108040648, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 24 November 2011

876 pages, 1 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 4.9 cm, 1.09 kg

Francis Bacon (1561–1626), the English philosopher, statesman and jurist, is best known for developing the empiricist method which forms the basis of modern science. Bacon's writings concentrated on philosophy and judicial reform. His most significant work is the Instauratio Magna comprising two parts - The Advancement of Learning and the Novum Organum. The first part is noteworthy as the first major philosophical work published in English (1605). James Spedding (1808–81) and his co-editors arranged this fourteen-volume edition, published in London between 1857 and 1874, not in chronological order but by subject matter, so that different volumes would appeal to different audiences. The material is divided into three parts: philosophy and general literature; legal works; and letters, speeches and tracts relating to politics. Volume 1, published 1857, contains the biography by Bacon's secretary, William Rawley (c.1588–1667), and part 1 of the philosophical works included in the Instauratio Magna.

History and plan of this edition
Life of the Right Honourable Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam William Rawley
Philosophical works: General preface to the philosophical works Robert Leslie Ellis
Part I. Works Published, or Designed for Publication, as Parts of the Instauratio Magna: Novum Organum
Preface to the Novum Organum Robert Leslie Ellis
Instauratio Magna
Pars Secunda Operis quae Dicitur Novum Organum
Parasceve ad Historiam Naturalem et Experimentalem
Preface
Descriptio Historiae Naturalis et Experimentalis qualis Sufficiat et sit in ordine ad Basin et Fundamenta Philosophiae verae
Aphorismi de conficienda Historia Prima
Catalogus Historiarum particularium, secundum capita
De Augmentis Scientiarum: Preface
Partitiones Scientiarum, et Argumenta singulorum capitum
De Dignitate et Augmentis Scientiarum
Novus Orbis Scientiarum, sive Desiderata
Appendix on the art of writing in cipher.

Subject Areas: Western philosophy: c 1600 to c 1900 [HPCD]