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Of Goodness and Goodness of Nature by Francis Bacon (Summary)

 

Of Goodness and Goodness of Nature

by Francis Bacon

(Summary) 

Read The ESSAY

The essay deals with several marks of goodness. Bacon appears as a moralist or preacher who teaches us to exercise goodness or charity without limit. He says, that goodness or charity is the character of the Deity. Goodness aims at the welfare of men. Goodness consists in performing charitable actions, while goodness of nature means the inclination or desire to perform such actions. Goodness or charity is the highest of all human virtues. For Bacon: The desire of power, in excess, caused the angels to fall: the desire of knowledge, in excess, caused man to fall; but in charity there is no excess; neither can angel or man come in danger by it.

The angels in heaven revolted against God because they became jealous of God's unlimited power. The result was that these angels were expelled from paradise. Man ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge in defiance of the command of God, and man too was expelled from the Garden of Eden. In this case, man's excessive desire for knowledge led to his downfall. Bacon says that there can be no excess in charity. No matter how charitable a man may be, we can't accuse him of excess in the matter. Nor can men suffer any punishment as result of excessive charity. Bacon says, that the spirit of goodness is deeply rooted in human being. If a man is not good to his fellow human beings, he will show kindness to animals like the Turks. The Turks do not show any goodness or charity to fellow human beings, but they are kind to beasts, and they feed dogs and birds. There are persons who are by nature malicious or spiteful. Malicious persons take pleasure in aggravating the miseries of others. They are like the flies which tormented Lazarus by setting down on his wounds. Malicious man strives only to hurt others. Men of this type are fit to become politicians who have to face all kinds of uncertainty and danger. Bacon mentions several marks of kindness.

The essay has a popular appeal. What Bacon wants to teach from this essay is practical though provoking. It is too familiar and ethical. The subject matter is impressive. The essay appeals to our mind. Bacon tries to reason us into goodness and argue us into charity. He speaks like a logician. However, the reasoning is sound and flawless. The most remarkable quality of the essay is the economy of words employed to convey ideas. It is a marvel of condensation. The moral percepts are made interesting and entertaining by means of allusions, quotations and illustrations.

Read The ESSAY

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