Francis Bacon Essay "Of parents and children "

Of parents and children 

The first master of the essay form in English, Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was confident that of all his works in "The Essay’s are; Counsels, Civil and Moral(1625) would "last as long as books last." One of the best-known essays from that enduring collection is “of Parents and Children”

Essay ”Of Parents and Children” written by Francis Bacon, a famous English philosopher and

scientist whose aphorism (terse sentences) Scientia potentia est (knowledge is power ) is known to everyone in the world,

represents a lot of interesting philosophical ideas. These ideas can be easily related to the present day principles and concepts. The philosophy of Francis Bacon is concluded in the fact that the major goal of scientific knowledge lies in providing benefit to the humanity. (Anderson, 1992, p.124)

My goal in this essay in to give a critical analysis of Francis Bacon’s philosophical work Of

Parents and Children.

Francis Bacon in his essay “of parents and children “shows the relationship of parents with their children, their responsibilities and the advantages and disadvantages of having children.

Bacon says that;

The joys, sorrow and the fears of the parents with regard to their children are personal

and private, not to be shared with others.

·        Pros and Cons of having Children(advantages and disadvantages);

                          

Bacon states that;

     “children sweeten labor, but they make misfortune more bitter”.

Children make it easy to bear hard work because the parent's labor will benefit the

children. But they find it harder to bear misfortunes because of the thought that these misfortunes will affect the children's well-being.

 Anxiety is increased by children but this is compensated by the thought that their memories will be perpetuated(to preserve from extinction) through their children and this makes the thought of death easier to bear.

Every species perpetuates its elder through reproduction, but it is a man alone who possesses the intellectual achievements and memory.

 Childless men do more noble deeds than those who have children. Such men have no image of themselves to leave behind, thus they seek to express and perpetuate themselves through their noble deeds which benefit mankind.

·        Parents responsibilities:

Bacon states that;

“Parents who wish to train up their children in the way they should go must go in the way in which they would have their children go.”

In the above statement, bacon talks about the responsibilities of parents, concerning the upbringing of children.

 Children are deep observers, they also learn from actions not only from words. parents must love their children in a responsible manner and provide for their healthy growth.

They must inspire their children by their own “exemplary life” and must never neglect to correct their faults.

PARENTS must provide for the material and spiritual welfare of their children. A parent is their child’s first teacher and should remain their best teacher throughout life. It is a responsibility of parent’s to preach their child moral values as they would become a good person in their future and works for the benefit of humanity.

“Parents are the ultimate role models for children.”

·        Faults of parents towards their child;

The great philosopher and keen observer of human nature, the Francis bacon tries to show parents their faults towards the children rights.

Ø Unequal favoritism: Parents, often discriminate in their love for their children this is not desirable.

        In a large family, the eldest child gets some attention and the youngest is often spoilt.

         The ones in the middle are ignored but often prove themselves to be the best of the lot.

Ø Illiberality: Parents should not be miserly in giving their children pocket allowance. This is harmful as it will lead them into crooked and dishonest ways and open to overindulgence if they come into plenty in later life. Authority should be exercised but there should be liberality in pocket allowance.

Ø  Encourage a spirit of rivalry: Another bad practice is to encourage a spirit of competition among children.

       This develops into disharmony in the family when they are older.

        “Every word, movement and action has an effect on child. No other person or outside force has a greater influence on a child than the parent.” 

·        Nephews and own Children;

Here writer shows the intentions of parents towards the children of their near relations.

The Italians make no distinction between their own children and those of near relations.

This is justified because a nephew sometimes bears a greater resemblance to a person

then his own child.

·       Profession for a Child;

Parents should choose a suitable profession for their child.

 The choice should be made early when the child is yet pliable(easily influenced).

“One of the greatest gifts a parent can give a child is to help them find their talent”

 Any initial aversion(a strong feeling of dislike) felt by a child for the profession will be overcome by custom(A habitual practice).

If, however, the child's inclination is markedly opposed to the

profession of parental choice, then he may be allowed to make his own choice.

“The Passion of a child should be important to parents”

Younger brothers generally come to good as they have a strong incentive(encouragement for action) to hard work.

This incentive is withdrawn if the elder brother is disinherited and the younger child hopes to be the beneficiary of a lot of wealth.

Critical Remarks

This essay belongs to the category in which Bacon views man in relation to the world and society. Bacon has an ability to say so much, with great depth, in so few words. The subject of this essay is of the common and widespread interest.

 This essay contains some indisputably sound advice regarding the bringing up of children.

 This speaks for the keen insight Bacon possessed.No doubt he was the wisest man having shrewd intellect.

Though the subject could easily involve sentimentality, Bacon considers it in the clear light of unsentimentality. He prepares, as usual, a balance-sheet of advantages and disadvantages which are a lot of parents.

Apparently, Bacon did not consider people with children an asset to society, as he says;

“He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune”.

Critical Analysis of Francis Bacon Essays

OF Great Place

The first master of the essay form in English, Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was confident that of all his works in "The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral (1625) would "last as long as books last." One of the best-known essays from that enduring collection is "Of Great Place."

In his analysis of the essay, contemporary rhetorician Richard Lanham describes Bacon's style as "clipped," "curt," "compressed" and "pointed".

The Essay Of Great Place written by Francis Bacon, a famous English philosopher, and

scientist whose aphorism (terse sentences ) Scientia potential est (knowledge is power ) is known to everyone in the world,

represents a lot of interesting philosophical ideas. These ideas can be easily related to

the present day principles and concepts. The philosophy of Francis Bacon is concluded in

the fact that the major goal of scientific knowledge lies in providing benefit to the

humanity. (Anderson, 1992, p.124)

My goal in this essay in to give a critical analysis of Francis Bacon’s philosophical work Of

the Great Place.

The main idea of the essay is to show the readers the position of men in great places.

Francis Bacon discusses the life, duties, and behavior of those people who occupy a high

position in the society. BACON SAYS;

“men in great place are thrice servents “

 He writes that all the people who live in great places are “thrice

servants”. They are servants of the sovereign or state, fame, and business. Moreover,

they have no freedom although they enjoy power.

“it is a strange desire to seek power and lose liberty “

 It is a very interesting idea that

powerful people have no liberty. But its true. They have power over other people who

occupy a lower position in the society but they “lose power” over themselves.

Francis Bacon argues(to present reason for against thing) that it is very difficult “to raise into place”. People should be strong and self-confident to take a high position in the society.

 He writes that “by indignities,

men come to dignities”. Moreover, they can easily lose their position that is why they

should be uncompromising in their goals and desires. Even in the old ag,e great men

should not change their manners.

As Francis Bacon is a great philosopher who not only knows a lot about human nature

but also tries to teach others, to share his knowledge with people around him.

 In his essay Of the Great Place, Bacon touches upon the problem of other people’s opinion

concerning “great men”.

He writes that great persons should “borrow other men’s

opinion” because they can get a lot of interesting and important things for them. The

great men cannot judge themselves. They should learn what other people think of them

in order to remain on the top of the ladder. (Bacon, 2006, p.4)

Bacon expresses a very interesting thought when he writes that;

“ the great men are the

first to find their own griefs(sharp sorrow; painful regret), though they be the last to find their own faults”.

 He is sure that it is very difficult for those people who have money and power to find their own

faults. They do not see their faults. It seems to them that they have no faults while they

have a lot of them. Only other people can show them their faults. That is why the great

men are interested in learning other people’s opinion. When Bacon says that the great

people are the first to find their griefs, he means that they love themselves so much that

cannot stand any trouble or misfortune. They have power and money and they do not

want to have any griefs in their life. (Gaukroger, 2001, p.56)

Francis Bacon calls these people “strangers to themselves”.

The great men are fully involved in their business that they                                             

 “have no time to ten for their health, their body and their mind”.

 The only things they are thinking about are power and money. Sometimes

they simply forget about their health. And only when they get problems with health they

come down to earth and realize that they are merely human beings.

The great philosopher also touches upon the theme of good and evil in his essay.

 He argues that;

 “in place, there is a license to do good and evil”.

Evil is curse(trouble). Only those people who do good will be able to have rest. Good thoughts are better than good dreams because the men have an opportunity to bring their good thought to life. Bacon writes that

 “merit (excellence; worth)and good works is the end of man’s motion”.

 Any men should learn to do good in his life in order to get an award from God at the end of “the motion”.

Any man can be “a partaker of God’s theater” but he should deserve it. (Bacon, 2006, p.5) God’s theater is the world in which men act. God’s rest is heaven. The single most important principle that guided Bacon’s life and work was that men ought to labor for the good of mankind; especially men of talent and good birth, and most especially men of science. In order to do good, you must have some authority — the means to achieve your lofty aims.

“The power to do good is the true and lawful end of aspiring(aim)”.

The author of the essay tries to explain to the readers

 that any man has an opportunity to analyze not only his own actions but also the actions of other people in order to understand what is good and what is bad.

They should

 “neglect the examples of those that have carried themselves ill”.

 They should follow only good examples. Moreover, the

great people should be role models to other people. They should learn good lessons from

their past life and take care of their future. Bacon writes:

“Seek to make thy course regular, that men may know beforehand what to expect”.

(Bacon, 2006, p.6)

The great philosopher also touches upon the theme of law.

 It is a very important

question for him because the law in the society is a vital thing.

He teaches “to preserve the right of thy place, but stir no questions of jurisdiction”.

 He also wants everyone to

preserve the rights of other places.

Bacon argues that there are four major vices of authority. They are corruption, delays,

roughness and facility.

In order to overcome delay, the great people should be punctual.

Bacon writes:

 “give easy access, keep time appointed”. (Bacon, 2006)

Special attention is paid to corruption. Bacon writes that the great people should be

sincere to avoid corruption. For corruption, prosecute the bribers as well as the bribees. “And avoid not only the fault, but the suspicion.”

In order to avoid roughness, it is necessary to be kinder. The

facility is worse than bribery(rishwat). It is necessary to be more careful.

Francis Bacon argues that the great men should respect other people even if they are no

so powerful as they are.

 He writes: “If you have colleagues, respect them”. (Bacon,2006, p.8)

The author of the essay wants those people who became great to have a change in their

nature. He wants them to become another men. (Gaukroger, 2001, p.201)

“All rising to great place is by a winding stair…”

Bacon’s life took more turns than most and his reputation continues to revolve as the centuries roll past. This is also wisdom from experience:

 “if there be factions, it is good to side a man’s self, whilst he is in the rising, and to balance himself when he is placed.”

 You need a party to get elected, but once in the top seat, you need to represent the whole society.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, it is necessary to say that such a wise man as Francis Bacon could not

only show the strengths and the weaknesses of the great men of the society but also he

could give them some recommendations concerning their way of life, their behavior and

their principles. He was interested in the investigation of the human nature. His natural

philosophy was greatly appreciated because he represented absolutely new philosophical

ideas concerning the essence of life. Francis Bacon’s essay Of Great Place is one of his

bold philosophical works.

“A position of eminence(high rank) makes a great person greater and a small person less.”

“The philosophy of life is this: Life is not a struggle, not a tension... Life is bliss(supreme happiness). It is eternal wisdom, eternal existence.”