Francis Bacon (1561-1626), the English philosopher, statesman and jurist, is best known for developing the empiricist method which forms the basis of modern science. Bacon's writings concentrated on philosophy and judicial reform. His most significant work is the Instauratio Magna comprising two parts - The Advancement of Learning and the Novum Organum. The first part is noteworthy as the first major philosophical work published in English (1605). James Spedding (1808-81) and his co-editors arranged this fourteen-volume edition, published in London between 1857 and 1874, not in chronological order but by subject matter, so that different volumes would appeal to different audiences. The material is divided into three parts: philosophy and general literature; legal works; and letters, speeches and tracts relating to politics. Volume 1, published 1857, contains the biography by Bacon's secretary, William Rawley (c.1588-1667), and part 1 of the philosophical works included in the Instauratio Magna.

Table of Contents

History and plan of this edition; Life of the Right Honourable Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam William Rawley; Philosophical works: General preface to the philosophical works Robert Leslie Ellis; Part I. Works Published, or Designed for Publication, as Parts of the Instauratio Magna: Novum Organum; Preface to the Novum Organum Robert Leslie Ellis; Instauratio Magna; Pars Secunda Operis quae Dicitur Novum Organum; Parasceve ad Historiam Naturalem et Experimentalem; Preface; Descriptio Historiae Naturalis et Experimentalis qualis Sufficiat et sit in ordine ad Basin et Fundamenta Philosophiae verae; Aphorismi de conficienda Historia Prima; Catalogus Historiarum particularium, secundum capita; De Augmentis Scientiarum: Preface; Partitiones Scientiarum, et Argumenta singulorum capitum; De Dignitate et Augmentis Scientiarum; Novus Orbis Scientiarum, sive Desiderata; Appendix on the art of writing in cipher.