Francis Bacon and the Project of Progress

Description

This book rehabilitates the reputation of Francis Bacon as one of the seminal founders of modernity, especially of modern political and economic science. Robert K. Faulkner argues that Baconian concepts have come to underlie a number of the progressive philosophies of the modern world. The book is clearly written and makes available a wide range of issues concerning the style of Bacon's writings and his politics. Highly recommended to both general and academic libraries at all levels. Cover Publication Data Contents Acknowledgments Part I: The Politics of Enlightenment Chapter 1: A Plan and Its Interpreters Bacon's Project Questioning the Importance of the Project Questioning the Project Notes Chapter 2: The Art of Enlightenment The Disorderly Order of the Essays Literary and Rhetorical Methods: Essays as Agitation by "Dispersed Directions" Of Discourse: Communication as Insinuating Domination The First Stage: Sedition by Concealed Boldness The Second Stage: Getting the Able Down to Business The Third Stage: New Men and New Orders The Fourth Stage: Image Making and the Father of Enlightenment Notes Chapter 3: Improvements on Machiavelli: Empire Humane, Civil, and Visionary Machiavelli and the Essays The Policy of Humanitarianism Sedition by Economic Development Custom as Regulated Opportunity States and States of Learning Notes Part II: Self, Society, and Domination: Reconsidering Baconian Individualism Chapter 4: The Self-Made Man Bacon and the Varieties of Individualism Opportunistic Individualism An Art of Life The Skeptical Critique The Dynamics of Self-Making Public Persona as a Delivery of Self Notes Chapter 5: The Ancients Corrected: Wisdom as Policy, Friendship as Leadership The Illusion of Wisdom, the Policy of Knowledge Friendship as Negotiation with Followers Notes Chapter 6: The Emperor over Time Lessons of the Caesars Lessons of the Inventor-God Notes Part III: The State of Progress Chapter 7: Bacon and the Modern State The Enigmatic Outlines Modern State and Modern Thought Notes Chapter 8: Henry VII, the State-Builder History as Enlightenment by Civil Memory Marks of Statecraft The King and His Rivals Laws and Legislature King and Counsellors Notes Chapter 9: The Great Power Civil Politics Essays and the Civil State Counsellors as Framers and Administrators of Growth Five Formulas for a Growing Nation Five Formulas for Mobilizing a Nation for War Notes Chapter 10: The Politics of Hope The Economics of Progress Law as Effectual Security The Fighting Creed of Humanity Notes Chapter 11: Visions and Powers: The Comprehensive Politics of Progress Visionary Politics "A Work Unfinished" - But a Literary Work Completed? Conversion Poetry Not Utopia But Real Progress Progressive Visions and Civil Policies The Progressive Vision as Exaggeration of Future Security A Vision of Science The Power of the State Notes Chapter 12: The Foundation of the Project Danger and Disillusion The Problem of the Foundation The Problem of the Self Notes Appendix 1: Civil Image of Julius Caesar Appendix 2: Imago Civilis Julii Caesaris Appendix 3: Civil Image of Augustus Caesar Appendix 4: Imago Civilis Augusti Caesaris Index Index to Discussions of 'Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral' About the Author Back Cover