xvi

INTRODUCTION

geography (pp. 288-376) followed by a treatise on astrology (pp. 376-403).

Two points arise here: (1) one is the existence of the section on music in the Opus Tertium The "Third Work," a summary and expansion of Bacon's earlier ideas intended for the Pope. which has nothing corresponding to it in the Opus Majus The "Greater Work," Bacon's most significant scientific and philosophical treatise.: (2) the second is that the newly discovered fragment of the Opus Tertium does not follow closely the order of subjects in the Opus Majus.¹

(1) Professor Duhem Pierre Duhem (1861–1916) was a French physicist and historian of science who argued that medieval thinkers laid the foundations for modern science. suggests (p. 28) that there is a lacuna A missing section or gap in a manuscript. in the existing text of the Opus Majus. There is no evidence for this supposition.² On the other hand there is some evidence that the chapters on music were a later addition to the Opus Tertium. In chapter 75 original: "cap. lxxv." Bacon twice refers to the treatise on the "Sins of Theology" in the Opus Tertium as being already written: "As I have declared in the second work and in this Third Work regarding the Sins of Theology" original: "Sicut in secundo opere et hoc Tertio Opere in Peccatis Theologiae declaravi" (p. 304): "As I have especially explained regarding the Seventh Sin of the study of theology in the second work, and regarding the Eighth Sin in this Third Work" original: "Sicut praecipue exposui in Peccato Septimo studii theologiae in opere secundo, et in Peccato Octavo in hoc Opere Tertio" (p. 309). Other

¹ Comparative table of

Pages of this edition.	Corresponding passages in Opus Majus, (Bridges).
1 . . . . .	286-87.
2 . . . . .	287, 379, 380, 387.
3 . . . . .	387, 385, 263, 265.
4 . . . . .	263, 288, 387 : 45, 176.
5 . . . . .	235, 377, 380.
6 . . . . .	381-82 (258-61).
7 . . . . .	378, 386 (263).
8 . . . . .	387-88, 384.
9 . . . . .	384.
10 . . . .	301.
11 . . . .	301-2.
12 . . . .	303.
13 (end) . . .	304-76.
14 . . . .	388-90.
15 . . . .	392-93.
16 . . . .	394, 395.
17 . . . .	395, 402.
18, 19 . . .

² According to a passage in the Tanner MS. A manuscript in the Tanner collection at the Bodleian Library. (folio 13 recto), the subject of musical instruments was touched on after the treatise on geography; but it is not clear whether Bacon is here referring to the Opus Majus, or to the Opus Minus The "Lesser Work," intended as a smaller companion or introduction to the Opus Majus.; see p. 18 below.