The Salon

[ Home | Contents | Search | Post | Reply | Next | Previous | Up ]

Re: Bacon and Machiavelli; who would win in a fight?

From: Hud Reynolds
Date: 11/9/2003
Time: 11:29:53 AM
Remote Name: 199.44.215.199

Comments

With regard to Machiavelli's deepest desire, I get the feeling that he wanted nothing more than peace and prosperity, and that he thought that only the creation of large, nation-states would save mankind from Hell on Earth. Bacon, on the other hand, ardently desires peace as well, but requires it only as a precondition to the advancement of knowledge through experimental science, which he hopes will finally bring salvation. But salvation from what? The overwhelming necessities of the body? The encrusted superstitions of the mind? What is this freedom that we inhabitants of Machiavelli and Bacon's modernity seek?

Last changed: June 15, 2004
Faculty Webserver - Disclaimer
Views expressed on this website are the views of the faculty member.