FRANCIS BACON AND DUAL REVELATION

Englishman Francis Bacon (1561-1626) is another of our philosophical "friends" in my view. Of course, he is remembered for the "big bang" of inductive reasoning in European philosophy; for looking at the results of phenomena and reasoning from the a posteriori physical evidences back to causes and fundamental realities. This is a very empiricistic way of understanding reality (or attempting to). The author of the Novum Organum, Bacon is certainly a signpost on the long, winding path for more fulfilling human understanding.

"Dual Revelation" refers to the idea that there is valid understanding of ultimate reality both in the "book of nature" and the "book of God" (the Bible). Both are fully relevant to our attempt to "make sense" of who we are and why we are here. In Bacon's day (and much before and continuing after), what we know today merely as science was referred to as "Natural Theology." It was a given, in the context of pre-Enlightenment theocratic Europe, that studying the book of nature could only help us better understand, in a systematic way (such as in Bacon's magnum opus Novum Organum), our place within our Creator's world. We could study it, learn from it, make valid judgments from the data of nature, and better fit it into the grand matrix of human understanding along with scriptural revelation (again, the Bible, representative of a priori knowledge).

In my hand-written notes, I came across some wonderful quotes from Bacon along these lines. They come from his volume entitled The Advancement of Learning:

"To conclude, therefore, let no man, out of a weak conceit of sobriety, or an ill-equipped moderation, think or maintain, that a man can search too far or be too well-studied in the book of God's word, or in the book of God's works; divinity or philosophy; but rather let men endeavour an endless progress or proficiency in both."

"If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties."

(The latter statement wonderfully pre-figures Descartes' whole enterprise and is a fitting, stinging rebuke to reason-hating obscurantists everywhere.)

The world is indebted to Bacon for much, and the latter two statements wonderfully encapsulate some profound, timeless truths. People of faith should not disparage or dismiss reason altogether (as too many still do), and people of reason should not disparage faith/Christianity.

It has been the goal of both - over millennia - to try and make ultimate reality more understandable and approachable for us all...


TTC

THE GRAND CYCLE OF CIVILIZATIONS

I came across the following "cycle of civilizations" in my hand-written notes. It is attributed to Alexander Tyler, ca. 1750. There has always been some debate amongst philosophers about whether there is a predictable cyclicality to human civilizations (the circular, or Greek model - history always "repeats itself"), or whether the human experience witnesses a more linear trajectory; a "telos," (Greek for "goal"), an "endgame," so to speak (the latter a strongly Christian view of things). Does history have a purpose? Is it going somewhere? Is there real "progress"? (whatever that means) That kind of thing...

My own view is that there is truth to both views (a Post for another day...).

Be that as it may, Tyler's simple model deserves some serious reflection, as it succinctly states some profound truths about the "round trip" many civilizations take. Think about this:



From Bondage to Spiritual Faith

From Spiritual Faith to Great Courage

From Great Courage to Liberty

From Liberty to Abundance

From Abundance to Complacency

From Complacency to Apathy

From Apathy to Dependency

From Dependency to Bondage...


Sound familiar?

I thought so...


TTC