Of studies

Introduction
Francis Bacon, also known as Lord Verulam, was an English philosopher and statesman who
served as Attorney General and as Lord Chancellor of England. His works are seen as developing
the scientific method and remained influential through the scientific revolution.

Born: January 22, 1561, York House, London, United Kingdom

Died: April 9, 1626, Highgate, London, United Kingdom

Francis Bacon was an English Renaissance statesman and philosopher, best known for his
promotion of the scientific method.

Bacon, during the enlightenment era, now, and forever, is a symbol for science and rational
thought. Bacon's work spread and inductive methods for scientific analysis became more
prominent. These methods, known as Baconian method, were intended to replace the methods
of Aristotle.

His works are seen as developing the scientific method and remained influential through the
scientific revolution. Bacon has been called the father of empiricism. He argued for the
possibility of scientific knowledge based only upon inductive reasoning and careful observation
of events in nature.

About essay
The essay Of Studies by Sir Francis Bacon is the first essay in the series of ten essays published
in 1597. Later, it was revised in 1612 with the addition of some more sentences and ideas in it
along with the alteration in some vocabulary terms.

This essay is regarded as Bacon’s masterpiece enriched with stylized Latin vocabulary, fresh and
new ideas, logical and relevant themes and wisdom of the world.

The title “Of Studies” means the collective studies that a person does in his life. The main idea
of “Of Studies” by Francis Bacon is the benefits of reading. Reading helps the readers to cope up
with diverse situations. Reading also enhances readers’ intellect and cures restraints of the
mind.

The essay provides the right method to read different branches of knowledge and discusses
their benefits. In short, the theme of the essay “Of Studies” is how studies benefit a reader’s life
enormously in different ways.
Summary
Three Important Uses of Studies At the outset, Francis Bacon says that the three useful
purposes of studies are delight, ornament, and ability. The first useful purpose is reading
delights the reader. In one’s private space, reading is useful as it provides great pleasure. The
second purpose is studies add ornament to discourse. When a well-read person engages in a
written or spoken discussion, reading helps the person to exhibit his knowledge in a much
better way than an average person. Studies also improve one’s ability of judgment and
arrangement of things. One can be an expert at something even without studies, but there lies
a distinction between an expert and a learned man. Bacon says that an expert can execute his
plan, and even judge a situation but a learned man can better perform in giving advice, making
plans, and managing things. The efficiency of a learned man is better than an expert.

The effect of excessive reading These are the three ways of studies through which studies
serve a reader. However, too much in everything is bad and reading is no exception to that.
Bacon states that reading excessively leads to laziness. From the physiological point of view,
reading is a sedentary task and when a reader sits for long, the immobility of the body would
lead to lethargy. Similarly, using decorated words and knowledge excessively in discourse is
does the opposite. Too much use of ornaments would project a learned man as ostentatious.
Bacon also states that making judgments based on bookish knowledge is the humor of a
scholar. Consideration and application of the learning without understanding the practical
world is a fault. A reader must be able to draw the distinct line between the book and the real
world while judging.

Bacon here emphasizes ‘too much’ in each situation. Therefore, equilibrium must be
maintained between studying and other activities, between ornament and argument, and
between theory and practical. Bacon repeats his principal argument that reading does hone
human nature and experience perfects it. Bacon draws an analogy between natural plants and
the natural abilities of a person.Studies enhance the knowledge of the reader but that remain
unfulfilled until the person gains experience related to the subject of study. That means
knowledge and experience make reading complete. The shrewd men, in most cases, cope with
different situations of life with no studies. Therefore, for them, studies are of no use.

On the contrary, simple men admire studies. The simple men, who are not voracious readers
but aware of the benefits of reading, are awestruck to see a man filled with knowledge. Apart
from them, wise men take the best out of their studies as wise men know how to use the
knowledge from books in real life. Books don’t tell readers about the pragmatic aspects of
knowledge. The ability to implement knowledge is wisdom that is gained through observation.
Bacon emphasizes that having bookish knowledge is not enough. Theoretical knowledge is
completed only when it is used in real life.
Views of Studies Studies benefit a reader in diverse ways. However, not all men admire studies.
For instance, shrewd people contempt studies as they perceive studies don’t help people. A
book also should not be read to use it in a talk and discourse. This approach is too wrong
because the reader would be concerned more about the points which the reader can use in
discourse and reading becomes superficial. Contrary to these ways, one should read a book to
consider what the writer’s primary message or argument/s before making any decision
consciously or unconsciously.

Real Method of Studies

To get the most out of books, Francis Bacon suggests the method one should follow while
reading.
Bacon suggests one should not read to prove others wrong because, with this motive, the
reader looks for the points which can be used as arguments. The reader might be right, but in
the process, the reader loses what the book has to offer.
During reading, the reader must not also believe what the book says or take everything that the
book says for granted.
This approach is also problematic because this approach does not allow the reader to open up
the mind and the reader does nothing except imbibing the knowledge theoretically.

Benefits of Studies
Bacon also discusses the effects of reading, discussion, and writing. He states, reading makes a
full man; conference leads to a ready man while writing makes an exact man.
Reading provides a reader with knowledge. When one reads books one after the other, one’s
knowledge is bound to increase by the means of studies. In this way, it fills the reader with
knowledge.
Like reading, continuous engagement in the discussion makes a well-read person good at the
discussion. In discussion, one’s practice of using the knowledge instantly and constant practice
makes one ready for any topic to talk about.

Furthermore, if the reader notes down his thought or opinion on a book, then he can revisit the
notes and bring the exact idea or thought later in the future without pressuring the memory.
On the contrary, if one reads little, then he needs to pretend of knowing things. If the person
cannot pretend, then it will become obvious that he does not aware of the things.
Similarly, if one is not familiar with the discussion, he needs to have the presence of mind.
And if a person does not write much, he needs to have significant memory because he must rely
on his memory for everything he thinks.
Benefits of studying different subjects
Francis Bacon restates the benefits of reading diverse fields of knowledge. Francis Bacon
mentions,
Further, Bacon states that the right study can change intellect like a particular physical exercise
is right for the distinct disease of the body.
For instance, for a distracted mind, mathematics would be fit to improve concentration.
In mathematics, we need focus, and if the mind wanders during doing mathematics, then it
would spoil everything. So doing mathematics is a practice to stick to a particular task.
If the mind finds it difficult the differences between matters, then studying the philosophers and
theologians of the Middle Ages would be beneficial as they are noted for their logical
distinctions.
Moreover, if one wishes to improve reasoning or argumentative skills, then study lawyers’ cases
would be the right thing to do. So for such flaws of mind, reading has the solution.
Of Studies Theme
The theme of “Of Studies” is the benefits of reading. I have made a video where I have focused
on the theme of the essay. You can watch the video above.
Conclusion
In the essay, Bacon mainly discusses the benefits of reading. He also discusses the benefits of
reading different subjects. However, he does not support idle sitting. He makes his arguments
balanced by focusing on the experience. For Bacon, studies are completed only with experience.

CRTICAL ANALYSIS

• Of Studies Francis Bacon encourages studies but at the same time, he wants that
• (1) too much study leads to laziness
• (2) if one uses once knowledge too often in conversation with others, then one is is
showing off and
• (3) to be guided solely by ones studies one becomes a a scholar rather than a practical
man.
• Francis Bacon's argument about the value of studies is that studies are wonderful only if
influenced by experience because a person's natural abilities are enhanced by studies,
but studies without experience lead to confusion.
• According to Francis Bacon's tricky man condemn education; stupid man admire
education; but wise men use education as their real world experience dictates. He wants
the educated man not to use his education to argument unnecessarily with others not to
assume that education always leads to the correct behaviour or understanding; not to
use education merely to force on conversation with others.
• Rather Francis Bacon argues, education "some books are should be tested" should be
read but their advice ignored; other books should be swallowed meaning ignored
completely; and a few books are to be chewed and digested", that is understood
perfectly and used to guide behaviour. In addition Francis Bacon advises that some
books can be read but others, who take notes, and the notes can be substitute for
reading an entire book but these books should be those that cover less important
subjects. Francis Bacon comes back to addressing the effects of reading conversation
and writing.
• He also says that if a man writes very little then he must have a huge memory to
compensate for what he is not writing. If a man cannot converse properly then he must
 be very quick witted and if he doesn't read much he needs to be able to fake it to
pretend that he knows more than the other.
• History: Francis Bacon argues makes man wise, poetry, clever mathematics intellectually
sharp, logic and rhetorics, skilled in argument. Farther Bacon believers that there is no
problem that cannot be fixed by the appropriate study just as the the right physical
experience cures physical illnesses.
• Every disorder of the mind has a cure for example if a man cannot use one set of facts to
prove or illustrate the truth of an unrelated set of facts. Francis Bacon advises the study
of law. Every defect in thinking can be cured by a form of study.
• Overall it was an excellent piece of writing I think the most interesting part is the way its
constructed with a rhythm.
• I think it's important to follow the patterns and sometimes do a little deviation from it
to bring the curiosity into the readers mind. Even though it is a little too elaborative
about the various exercises to prevent diseases was not actually effective.

Literary devices

In Francis Bacon's essay "Of Studies," he deftly employs several literary devices:

 Parallelism: Bacon uses parallel structure to balance different ideas within a sentence, li
ke "crafty men condemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them."

 Aphorisms: The essay is full of aphorisms, concise statements that express a general trut
h. For instance, "Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exa
ct man."

 Metaphors: He uses metaphors to make his points more vivid. For example, he compare
s studies to different plants that require pruning: "Studies serve for delight, for ornamen
t, and for ability."

 Antithesis: Bacon contrasts two opposing ideas to highlight the differences between the
m. An example is: "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few
to be chewed and digested."

 Personification: He often personifies studies and learning, giving them human attributes
: "Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle."

Critical analysis of "of studies" with references

Francis Bacon's "Of Studies" is a seminal essay that explores the importance and uses of studies
in one's life. Here’s a critical analysis with references:
 1. Purpose of Studies: Bacon begins by categorizing the purposes of studies into three bro
ad areas: "delight," "ornament," and "ability."

 Delight: This is the personal pleasure and enrichment one gains from reading. As
Bacon states, "Studies serve for delight."

 Ornament: Studies improve one's ability to communicate and impress others. "O
rnament" in this sense refers to the enrichment of discourse, as seen in "their chi
ef use for ornament is in discourse."

 Ability: Practical skills and wisdom gained from studies that can be applied in eve
ryday affairs and decisions, reflected in "their chief use for ability is in the judgm
ent and disposition of business."

2. Approach to Different Books: Bacon categorizes books based on how they should be co
nsumed, a metaphor that highlights the varying depths of engagement required:

 Tasted: "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to
be chewed and digested."

 Swallowed: Certain books require a moderate level of engagement.

 Chewed and Digested: Some books necessitate deep study and thorough unders
tanding.

3. Benefits of Studies: Bacon outlines the different virtues developed through various bran
ches of study:

 Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosop
hy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend.

4. Application and Experience: Bacon emphasizes the balance between theoretical knowle
dge and practical application:

 Crafty men condemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them

5. Limitations of Studies: He warns against the misuse of studies, suggesting that they sho
uld not be used as a means of argumentation or showing off, but should serve practical
purposes:

 They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience.

Bacon's essay is not just a meditation on the value of learning but also a guide on how to integr
ate study into a well-rounded life. His use of concise and powerful aphorisms ensures his points
are memorable and impactful. What about this essay strikes you as most relevant or insightful t
oday?