Introductory Note

Bacon's literary executor, Dr. Rowley, published "The New Atlantis" in 1627, the year after the author's death. It seems to have been written about 1623, during that period of literary activity which followed Bacon's political fall. None of Bacon's writings gives in short apace so vivid a picture of his tastes and aspirations as this fragment of the plan of an ideal commonwealth. The generosity and enlightenment, the dignity and splendor, the piety and public spirit, of the inhabitants of Bensalem represent the ideal qualities which Bacon the statesman desired rather than hoped to see characteristic of his own country; and in Solomon's House we have Bacon the scientist indulging without restriction his prophetic vision of the future of human knowledge. No reader acquainted in any degree with the processes and results of modern scientific inquiry can fail to be struck by the numerous approximations made by Bacon's imagination to the actual achievements of modern times. The plan and organization of his great college lay down the main lines of the modern research university; and both in pure and applied science he anticipates a strikingly large number of recent inventions and discoveries. In still another way is "The New Atlantis" typical of Bacon's attitude. In spite of the enthusiastic and broad-minded schemes he laid down for the pursuit of truth, Bacon always had an eye to utility. The advancement of science which he sought was conceived by him as a means to a practical end the increase of man's control over nature, and the comfort and convenience of humanity. For pure metaphysics, or any form of abstract thinking that yielded no "fruit," he had little interest; and this leaning to the useful is shown in the practical applications of the discoveries made by the scholars of Solomon's House. Nor does the interest of the work stop here. It contains much, both in its political and in its scientific ideals, that we have as yet by no means achieved, but which contain valuable elements of suggestion and stimulus for the future.

Bacon's literary executor, Dr. Rowley, published "The New Atlantis" in 1627, the year after Bacon's death. The work seems to have been written around 1623, during the productive writing period following Bacon's fall from political power. No other work by Bacon gives so vivid a picture of his tastes and ambitions in so little space. This unfinished plan for an ideal society shows what mattered to him. The inhabitants of Bensalem are generous, enlightened, dignified, splendid, devout, and devoted to the public good. These are the ideal qualities Bacon the statesman wished, rather than hoped, to see in his own country. In Solomon's House, Bacon the scientist gives free rein to his prophetic vision of the future of human knowledge. Any reader with even some knowledge of modern scientific methods and results must be struck by Bacon's many imaginative predictions. These predictions come close to the actual achievements of modern times. The plan and organization of his great college outline the basic structure of the modern research university. In both pure and applied science, Bacon anticipates a strikingly large number of recent inventions and discoveries. "The New Atlantis" also reflects another characteristic of Bacon's outlook. Despite his ambitious and open-minded plans for pursuing truth, Bacon always kept practical usefulness in view. He saw scientific progress as a means to a practical end: greater human control over nature, and humanity's comfort and convenience. He had little interest in pure metaphysics or any abstract thought that produced no "fruit." This preference for usefulness appears in the practical applications of discoveries made by the scholars of Solomon's House. The work's interest does not end there. Many of its political and scientific ideals remain far from being achieved. Yet these ideals offer valuable ideas and inspiration for the future.