The Life & Work of Roger Bacon

Bagdad and Spain. And thirdly, the Opus Majus, when published in its entirety, appeared to me to present to the world a scheme of culture contrasting strongly with any that was offered in Bacon’s time or in the centuries that followed. By combining the comparative study of language with a comprehensive grasp of physical science, conceiving these studies as progressive, and yet holding them subordinate to a supreme ethical purpose, it surpassed any work offered to the world until the publication of the philosophical and social works of Auguste Comte.

In my selection of the additional notes to this edition, I have been guided by Dr. Bridges’ aims as set forth above. I believe it will be found that this supplementary material emphasizes and brings into even greater prominence both the standpoint of Dr. Bridges on this subject and the true nature of Bacon’s work.

The compendium of ‘Facts Relating to Bacon’s Life,’ which appears in Vol. I of the Opus Majus, has been reproduced here. I have also added a Table of the Seven Parts of the Opus Majus, and a Table of the Scriptum Principale, to enable the reader to see more clearly the general scheme of each of those works.

The English Positivist Committee now issues Dr. Bridges’ Introduction in a separate form, on