Page:The Works of Francis Bacon (1884) Volume 1.djvu/278

 150 ANALYSIS OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING. not how th.fi/ are done, yel we know well it is not as it seemeth to be. . Blenches are w.-ll laboured by Plato and Aristotle. . The virtuous use of this knowledge is to redargue sophisms : the corrupt use for caption and con tradiction. The difference is good which was made be tween orators and sophist ers that the one is as the greyhound, which huth his advantage in the race, and the other as the hare, which hath her advantage in the turn. . Elenches extend to divers parts of knowledge. . The references touching the common adjuncts of essences is an clench. . Seducements that work by the strength of im pression are elenches 211 . Elenches of idols. The mind of man, which I find not ob served or inquired at all, and think good to place here, as that which of all others apper- taineth moat to rectify judgment: the force whereof is such, as it doth not dazzle or snare the understanding in some particulars, but doth more generally and inwardly infect and corrupt the state thereof. For the mind of man is far from the nature of a clear and equal glass, wherein the beams of things should reflect according to their true incidence,- nay, it is rather like an enchanted glass, full of superstition and imposture, if it be not de livered and reduced. . The mind is more affected by affirmatives than negatives. 1 As was well answered by Diagoras to him that showed him in Neptune s temple the greater nunJier of pictures of such as had es caped shipwreck and had paid their vows to Neptune, saying, &quot; Advise now, you that think it folly to invocafe Neptune in tempest .&quot; &quot; Yea, but,&quot; said Diagoras, &quot; where are they painted that are drowned?&quot; 6. The mind supposes a greater equality then exists. 2 The mathematicians cannot satisfy them selves, except they reduce the motions of the celestial bodies to perfect circles, rejecting spiral lines, and labouring to be discharged of eccentrics. J 6 The mind is prejudiced by the false appearances imposed by every man s own individual nature and custom- 211 If a child wre continued in a grot or cave under the earth until maturity of age, and came siuldenly abroad, he would have strange and absurd imaginations. So in like manner, although our persons live in the view of hea ven, yet our spirits are included in the caves of our own complexions and customs, which minister unto us infinite errors, and vain opinions, if they be not recalled to examina tion. . The mind is misled by words. 4 . The cautions against these idols are defective. 211 . The application of the different kinds of proofs to different subjects. . Different kinds of demonstrations. . Immediate consent. . Induction. See note (Q) at the end of this Treatise. See note (R) at the end of this Treatise. 1 Sre note (3) at the end of this Treatise. See note (T) at the end of this Treatise. . Sophism. . Congruity The rigour and curiosity in requiring thf. more severe proof* in some thing*, and chiefly the facility in contenting ourselves with the more remiss proofs in others, hath seen amongst the greatest causes of detriment and hindrrunce to knowledge. 21. This is deficient. MEMORY 5 212 Retaining knowledge is by writing or memoiy. Writing. The nature of the character is referred to grammar. The disposition of our knowledge depends upon com mon-places. Of common-places injuring the memory. Because it is but a counterfeit thing in knowledges to be forward and pregnant, ex cept a man be deip and full, 1 hold the entry of common-places, to be a matter of great use and essence in studying, as that which ax- sureth &quot; copia&quot; of invention, and contraclelh judgment to a strength. The mode of common-placing is defective. Memory 212 [t is weakly inquired. Precepts for memory have been exalted for ostentation, not for use. / make no more estimate of repeating a great number of names or wordj upon once hearing, or the pouring forth of a number of verses or rhymes ex tempore, or the making of a satirical simile of every thing, or the turn ing &quot;f every thing to a jest, or the falsifying or contradicting of every thing by cavil, or the like, (whereof in the faculties of the mind there is great &quot; copia,&quot; and such as by dcvi-t. and practice may be exalted to an. extreme de &amp;gt;rree of wonder ,j than I do of the tricks of tumblers, funambuloes, baladines ; the one being the same in the mind that the other is in the body, matters of strangeness without worthiness. Art of memory is built upon prenotion and emblem. Prenotion is a limitation of an indefinite seeking by directing us to seek in a narrow compass. Emblem reduces conceits intellectual to images sen- s^ble. TRADITION 212 It is the transferring our knowledge to others. Division of the subject. . The organ of speech. . The method of speech. . The ornament of speech THE ORGAW OF SPEECH. Whatever is capable of sufficient differences and per- ception by the sense is competent ti&amp;gt; express thought. Different Signs of Thought. . Having similitude with the notion. . Hieroglyphics. . Gestures. . Not having similitude or words. The antiquity of hieroglyphics. Gestures are as transitory hieroglyphics. See note (U) at the end of this Treatise.