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Bacon
Feb 21, 2013 6:31:52 GMT -5
Post by Gerard on Feb 21, 2013 6:31:52 GMT -5
During a stint in the entourage of the ambassador to France, young Bacon's ambitions gradually turned towards vast schemes for the improvement of society. What eventually emerged was a coherent vision, in which the highest levels of government, exercising close supervision over all public officials, would seek to rationalize the law, take responsibility for the advancement of knowledge, and use their expertise and paternal wisdom to make England a great and prosperous empire. Bacon made it clear that he sought a specific department for himself. He wanted "all knowledge" as his province, which was not a boast about universal competence, but rather a request to be assigned to one of the areas that he hoped government would assume. He also wanted to contribute to the reform of law, and it is Julian Martin's view not only that the methods Bacon proposed in both areas were closely related (essentially those of the lawyer), but that they were also united in purpose - to enhance the glory of king and country. King James's reputed comment, on being presented with The Advancement of Learning - that it resembled the Peace of God, because it "passeth all understanding" - evokes the incomprehension with which many of Bacon's contemporaries greeted his more grandiose schemes.
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