PREFACE.
The following study pretends to be no more than a contribution toward an eventual formulation of the Philosophy of Roger Bacon. It is neither a literary nor an historical study, but rather a critical presentation of certain aspects of his Philosophy.
The time has hardly come when one can undertake seriously to write of the Philosophy of Roger Bacon. Such a work presupposes materials in a very different form from that in which we have them. Further, there is presupposed a study of our Author’s sources, with the purpose of making clear the influence of his predecessors in the shaping of his thought. And, finally, a better account of the life of Bacon is desirable, to indicate the influence of his contemporaries upon his philosophical and scientific activities.
It was my hope at the outset to be able to make this a literary and historical, as well as a critical study, and founded upon a preliminary examination of my Author’s works and sources and life; but with the realization of the requirements involved, this hope quickly faded. It is possible therefore merely to indicate where the life and works and sources, so far as discussed, may be found.
For the fullest discussion of these subjects, the reader is referred to Emile Charles’ Monograph, “Roger Bacon, sa vie, ses ouvrages, ses doctrines, d’apres des textes inedits,” published in Paris, 1861. Bacon’s life is treated pp. 1 to 53, and some further suggestions as to his personality 97 to 110, and 306 to 310; his works pp. 54 to 96, cf. 334 to 416; and for an admirable attempt to indicate his sources, see pp. 311 to 322 (also 97 to 288, passim). Charles’ work has not been superseded; nor, as such, is it likely to be. At once its advantage and its disadvantage lie in it its broad scope and its fairly free play of the imagination. It should be added that Charles does not confine himself to the unedited works (suggested by the title), and that his citation of sources is inadequate.
In J. S. Brewer’s “Fr. Rogeri Bacon Opera quaedam hactenus inedita,” London, 1859, is to be found (Introd. pp. lxxxv. to xcix.) an account of Bacon’s life (English translation from Wood’s “Hist. et Antiq. Univ. Oxon.,” Oxford, 1674, pp. 136ff); and in the same Introduction (pp. xxviii. to lxxxiv., cf. c.) a scholarly discussion of Bacon’s works, especially of value for orientation in his general literary activity and philosophy.
