Study Questions

Francis Bacon, New Organon and New Atlantis

The New Organon (1620)

• How does his position differ from or relate to Cartesianism (the ideas of Descartes) and Skepticism (the ideas of de Montaigne)?
• What is the relationship between mind and body?
• How does he view nature and humankind's relationship to it?
• What is the method that he is proposing? Is his method full proof or without error?
• What is "Interpretation of Nature?" Why is it important to him?
• Does he consider his way the "one" way or "right" way? Defend your answer by citing passages from the text.
• What are: Idols of the Tribe; Idols of the Cave; Idols of the Market-place; and Idols of the Theatre? Why does he consider these ideas/things to be "idols?" What is your relationship to these "idols?"

New Atlantis (1626)

• How does this reading relate to The New Organon? How are the two similar/different?
• How does he define himself? Europeans? Others?
• Why does he consider the island "happy?" Do you think everyone on the island is "happy" with the state of things or with "Salomon's House?"
• With what members of society does Bacon interact? Does this give him a complete picture of the island's culture and activities? Does he attempt to give a complete picture?
• Why do you think he made Spanish the language of the islanders?