Francis Bacon, between Myth and History

Abstract

Over the last 400 years, attitudes toward Francis Bacon's philosophy have changed considerably: 17-century interest and 18-century enthusiasm have been replaced by 20-century criticism and reevaluation. However, both praise and rejection of the philosophical ideas of the Lord Chancellor are often result from isolation and absolutisation of certain features of his philosophy, sometimes quite contrasting. These partial readings are justified by the fact that the reference to Bacon's methodological and epistemological legacy has a symbolic meaning and is a part of what is called "image of science" in Y. Elkana's terminology. The way in which references to Bacon are used at different times and in different contexts is, in fact, a functional myth or theoretical fiction (I. Kasavin) where the “historical Bacon” is fading and where clearly emerges what is important and meaningful to those who declare themselves his followers or who lash out at him with criticism.