Of Truth by Bacon - Lecture notes 1 PDF

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Bacon, on the other hand, reveals to us the subjective truth that is operative in the social realm. Bacon's masterpiece, "OF TRUTH," demonstrates his keen observation of human beings, with a particular focus on truth, in his work. Bacon correctly points out that most people don't care about the trut...

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Francis Bacon's book Of Truth DETAILED CONCLUSION AND CRITICISM Bacon explores a number of ways in which the objective truth can appear. Bacon, on the other hand, reveals to us the subjective truth that is operative in the social realm. Bacon's masterpiece, "OF TRUTH," demonstrates his keen observation of human beings, with a particular focus on truth, in his work. Bacon correctly points out that most people don't care about the truth, just like Pilate, the Roman governor who tried Jesus Christ, in the beginning of the essay:

“What is truth? Said jesting Pilate; and would not stay for an answer.”

On the next page, Bacon delves into the reasons for people's aversion to truth. First and foremost, truth can only be gained through sacrifice and effort, both of which humans are notoriously lacking. To put it another way, truth restricts human agency. Bacon says that man has "a natural though corrupt love of the lie itself," which is the real reason he dislikes the truth. In Bacon's analogy, the truth is like the sun's rays shining down and illuminating the true nature of men. In the dim light of lies, they appear beautiful and vibrant. He goes on to say,

“A mixture of a lie doth ever add pleasure.”

Illusions are a fact of life for man, who prefers to live a more exciting life through them. The human mind would shrink like a deflated balloon if people were stripped of their false pride and vanity, according to Bacon's keen insight into human

psychology. Bacon's razor-sharp intellect, on the other hand, does not miss the poetic untruth. However, in the eyes of a priest, poetic lies are not as harmful as other lies, he argues. A literary artist such as Bacon aptly illustrates this concept with the metaphor that poetic untruth is only the shadow of a lie. A comparison between the pursuit of truth, knowledge of truth, and belief in truth is made. This essay has a literary flair because of the comparison. According to Bacon, the final act of creation was the creation of rational faculties, which aid in the pursuit of truth.

“… The last was the light of reason…is the illumination of his spirit.”

In supporting his case for truth, Bacon asserts that only truth can turn the earth into paradise. This shows the moral idealism of Bacon. Always stick to the truth, do the act of charity and have faith in God in every matter, always stick to the truth. Bacon's firm faith in truth and God is encapsulated in the following quote:

Indeed, having a man's mind move in charity, rest in Providence, and turn to the poles of truth is like heaven on earth.

A judgement is made between what Bacon refers to as "the truth of civil business" and what is objectively true. According to Bacon, those who do not believe in the validity of the truth are compelled to acknowledge its existence. "..... that clear and round dealing is the honour of man's nature; and that mixture of falsehood is like

alloy in coin of gold and silver, which may make the metal work better, but it embasseth it."

Furthermore, he says that liars are like snakes, which travel on their bellies rather than their feet. Comparative imagery is appropriate and effective. A lie "faces God and shrinks from man," according to Montaigne, whom Bacon also quotes. On Doom's day, God will punish all human beings for their wickedness, Bacon argues, because falsehood is the pinnacle of wickedness. The morality of Christianity is therefore infused into Bacon's didacticism.

Of Truth" does not have a single digression. The essay's main idea, truth, is the focus of all of its arguments. When he refers to Pilate (history), Lucian (Greek literature), Creation, and Montaigne, Bacon demonstrates his breadth of knowledge (a French essayist). Lying is like a snake slithering around on its belly, and a mixture of falsehood is like gold and silver mixed together, according to "OF TRUTH," which is rich with metaphors. Falsehood compared to truth is like a candle in the dark, while the truth is like an open window in the daytime. A pearl represents truth, whereas a diamond represents lies, which when exposed to natural light creates optical illusions.

The essay "OF TRUTH" is not embellished in the manner of Elizabethan prose, as was the practise of the period. However, there is a tinge of Elizabethan colour to Bacon's essay "OF TRUTH" due to the essay's moderate use of Latinism. This essay not only uses fewer words, but it also has a shorter sentence structure. It is the essay's conversational ease that distinguishes Bacon's style. aphorisms are an

unusual characteristic of Bacon's work. In this essay, we come across a number of short, memorable, and witty quotations.

As a result, the essay "OF TRUTH" by Francis Bacon is a treasure trove of information. This is truly a "civil and moral" council....