SUMMARY OF THE WORK (Continued)

Philosophers also speak of true pleasure. These include Avicenna Avicenna, or Ibn Sina, was a Persian polymath and one of the most significant thinkers of the Islamic Golden Age., Aristotle, Cicero, Tully Tully is the medieval and early modern name for Marcus Tullius Cicero. It is interesting that the editor lists both names separately., and others. (p. 15) A discussion follows leading up to the hope of (p. 16) future happiness. The proof of this from philosophers can only be general, but it is quite plain. This is seen by long quotations from Avicenna. The mind is bound by the body and cannot attain perfect knowledge of it. (p. 18) Philosophers have also spoken at length of morals. Read Aristotle and Tully, Seneca, and Apuleius. (p. 19) All philosophers wish us to be attracted by the beauty of virtue. (p. 20) Sin impairs the vision of the soul. Like a rusted mirror, the soul returns a distorted image to the beholder. Sin is a degrading thing. It makes man as low as the beasts. (p. 21) Read these authors named. They speak not only of morals and religion, but of laws and statecraft; as Aristotle promises in the Ethics original: Ethica. This refers to Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics..

(pp. 22-5) Cities and states are of various kinds, according to their chief aims. Some look only to glory, riches, or pleasure; some have many aims. Bacon follows Avicenna in this passage at some length. The chief aim of a state should be the worship of God and the teaching of the truths of religion. After this (p. 26) the legislator should make laws for the family and common life, (p. 27) commerce, study, and the removal of evildoers. (p. 28) He should also provide for the discovery of the best among contending sects: religious or philosophical groups. Lastly, he should provide for the choice of his successor. (p. 29) Bacon indicates the authors to be read on these matters. As to moral virtues, philosophers teach the contempt of this world’s goods as the best foundation for them. He quotes Aristotle, Theophrastus, (p. 30) Cicero, Censorinus, Seneca, (p. 31) Apuleius, (p. 32) Tully, Sallust, and others. (p. 33) He then gives quotations from Tully, Cicero, Pliny, and the Secret of Secrets original: Secreta Secretorum. A widely circulated medieval book of advice to kings, falsely attributed to Aristotle., dealing with gross pleasures, (p. 34) lust, (p. 35) eating and drinking, (p. 36) dress, and luxury.

It appears, then, that the aim of philosophy is to instill the knowledge of God and His angels, morals, and good laws. This is done with contempt for the things of this life in view of future bliss. (p. 37) We require this teaching, for by nature we are blind to such objects. We require inspiration to set us in search of them. (p. 38) We do not even think human approach to perfection possible until a revelation is made. Philosophers agree this revelation will be made by some prophet. Avicenna describes his properties, and they agree with those of the Lord Jesus Christ. Bacon will limit himself to a few. (p. 39)

He lists the proofs: (1) by the concurrence of the prophecies of Ethicus, Alchimus, Plato, and Abu Ma'shar original: Albumazar. An influential Persian astronomer and astrologer.; (2) by the nobility of our sect which excels all others; (3) by the number of revelations granted to it; (4) by the noble conditions of our Lord who excels any other legislator in (a) sanctity and (b) perfect wisdom, (p. 41) judging each sect by its own books; (5) by the miracles of the legislator, as Al-Farabi original: Alpharabius. A renowned philosopher of the Islamic Golden Age known for his work on political philosophy. lays down; (6) by the testimony of prophets coming before Him, such as the Sibyls and the corpse found in the East in the time of Irene and Constantine A medieval legend claimed that during the reign of Empress Irene and Constantine VI, a body was discovered in an ancient tomb with a brass plate prophesying the birth of Christ.; (p. 42) (7) by a direct voice from heaven attesting the legislator’s claims, as Avicenna says; and (8) by Astronomy: the study of celestial movements, which Bacon believed could predict the rise and fall of religions, which investigates the future of the various sects.

Here Bacon enters into an account of the elements of Judiciary Astrology. He discusses the influences of the planets. Jove Jupiter. and Venus are kindly. Saturn and Mars are malevolent. Mercury is good with the good and bad with the bad. (p. 43) The heavens are divided into twelve houses, each with its own properties and ruling planets. He then describes the conjunctions of the planets and their influence on sects. (p. 44) Saturn, the planet of the Jews, comes first. All Gentile knowledge came after Moses and the law, as Bacon shows at length. (p. 45) When Jove is in conjunction with Mars, the law of the Chaldeans arises. With the Sun, the law of Egypt follows. With Venus comes the law of the Saracens A common medieval term for Muslims., as may be seen from Ovid's On the Old Woman original: De Vetula. A 13th-century Latin poem falsely attributed to the Roman poet Ovid. It contains significant astrological and mathematical content.. With Mercury, the Christian religion is...