Selections from the Works of Lord Bacon (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1847 edition. Excerpt: ...up in the mind, to draw forth dexterously what may be pertinent to the subject or inquiry proposed. For topics of invention are of no use to one who knows little or nothing respecting the subject under consideration; on the other hand, one who has in his possession, ready prepared, what may be brought forward upon the question in hand, can, even without the rules of art and topics of invention, find and bring forward arguments, though not so promptly and conveniently; so that this kind of invention (as we have already remarked) is not invention, properly so called, but only a recollection, or a suggestion with application. However, since the appellation has come into use, and has been generally received, it may doubtless be called invention, since we can apply the expressions chasing and catching to game not less when hunted within an enclosed park, than when in open gronuds. But, giving over verbal cavils, this may be laid down: that the scope and aim of this matter is to attain a prompt and ready employment of our knowledge, rather than an enlargement or increase of it. And a two-fold plan may be adopted in order to our having a store ready for argument. Either to have marked and pointed out as it were by the finger, on what heads we should investigate a matter; and this is what we mean by Topic. Or, to have arguments ready composed and stored up for use on subjects which more frequently occur and come under discussion; and this we shall denominate Promptuary. But this latter hardly deserves the name of science, as consisting rather of diligent preparation than of 1 any scientifically-constructed body of knowledge. But in this department Aristotle ingeniously, though mischievously, derides the Sophists of his day, remarking, ..".