Of Truth – Francis Bacon

 

Of Truth – Francis Bacon

Introduction

Francis Bacon (1561 – 1626) was an essayist, philosopher, scientist, orator and statesman. He is known as the ‘father of English essays’. He adapted the essay genre developed by Montaigne, a French writer who is regarded as the father of the Essay. His essay ‘Of Truth’ was first published in 1625, in “Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral”. This edition consists of 58 essays. The writing style of Francis Bacon is aphoristic. Bacon never includes his own life experience and observation. As a result, his essays are impersonal.

Bacon starts his essay with a reference to the crucial question of Pilate to Jesus Christ: “What is Truth?”  Pilate meant that truth is a term that cannot be precisely defined and so, as a judge he could not act upon the claim of Jesus that his mission was to propagate truth. While this is the real position, Bacon does not go into the question of truth at any depth. He merely observes that truth can be religious or speculative truth and civil truth which concern our everyday life. He points out that people in certain walks of life tell lies for achieving their goals. Poets tell lies to provide intellectual pleasure. Business men utter lies for material gain. But why do ordinary people choose lie? Because they are corrupt and developed a depraved taste for the lie.

Bacon compares truth to daylight and falsehood to candle light.  The first is clear but harsh. The second is vague but delightful. He also compares truth to a pearl which shines by daylight. He compares falsehood a diamond which glitters in multicolored lights.

Bacon emphasizes that enquiring into truth, is like making love, knowing the truth is like attaining the presence of the beloved and believing the truth is like enjoying the company of his beloved. He next points out that God first created the physical light which we perceive with the senses. His last creation was endowing man with the light of reason.

Bacon is aware that in certain occasions telling lies is unavoidable. Telling lies occasionally is like mixing copper with gold to make precious metal adaptable. He also compares falsehood to a snake that crawls crookedly on its stomach instead of standing foursquare like other animals. He quotes Montaigne who says that a liar is a coward towards other men and brave towards God. Bacon says that liars will be ultimately punished, because the Bible tells us that the Second Coming of Christ will be necessitated when people give up truth altogether. Thus Bacon presents both sides of the picture without any bias.