Article #575-2 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral, by Francis Bacon

FR. ST. ALBAN

Of Truth

WHAT is truth? said jesting Pilate, and would not stay for an answer.
Certainly there be, that delight in giddiness, and count it a bondage to
fix a belief; affecting free-will in thinking, as well as in acting. And
though the sects of philosophers of that kind be gone, yet there remain
certain discoursing wits, which are of the same veins, though there be
not so much blood in them, as was in those of the ancients. But it is
not only the difficulty and labor, which men take in finding out
of truth, nor again, that when it is found, it imposeth upon men's
thoughts, that doth bring lies in favor; but a natural, though corrupt
love, of the lie itself. One of the later school of the Grecians,
examineth the matter, and is at a stand, to think what should be in it,
that men should love lies; where neither they make for pleasure, as with
poets, nor for advantage, as with the merchant; but for the lie's sake.
But I cannot tell; this same truth, is a naked, and open day-light, that
doth not show the masks, and mummeries, and triumphs, of the world, half
so stately and daintily as candle-lights. Truth may perhaps come to the
price of a pearl, that showeth best by day; but it will not rise to the
price of a diamond, or carbuncle, that showeth best in varied lights.
A mixture of a lie doth ever add pleasure. Doth any man doubt, that if
there were taken out of men's minds, vain opinions, flattering hopes,
false valuations, imaginations as one would, and the like, but it would
leave the minds, of a number of men, poor shrunken things, full of
melancholy and indisposition, and unpleasing to themselves?

Explanation

Detailed Explanation of Francis Bacon’s Of Truth

Context & Background

Francis Bacon’s The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral (first published in 1597, expanded in 1612 and 1625) is a collection of short, aphoristic essays on topics ranging from politics and ethics to human nature and philosophy. Bacon, a key figure in the English Renaissance and a proponent of empirical science, wrote these essays in a concise, witty, and often paradoxical style, blending classical philosophy with practical wisdom.

"Of Truth" is the first essay in the collection and sets the tone for Bacon’s exploration of human behavior. It examines why people often prefer falsehood over truth, despite truth’s inherent value. The essay reflects Bacon’s broader intellectual project: advocating for clear, rational thinking while acknowledging the psychological and social obstacles to truth.

Textual Analysis: Key Themes & Ideas

1. The Elusiveness of Truth (Opening Lines)

"What is truth? said jesting Pilate, and would not stay for an answer."

Reference to Pilate: Bacon alludes to the biblical scene (John 18:38) where Pontius Pilate, during Jesus’ trial, dismissively asks, "What is truth?" without waiting for a response. This sets up truth as something both profound and easily ignored.
Human Indifference: Pilate’s "jesting" attitude suggests that many people treat truth as a rhetorical question rather than a serious pursuit. Bacon implies that truth is often avoided because it demands commitment and intellectual labor.

2. The Psychological Resistance to Truth

"Certainly there be, that delight in giddiness, and count it a bondage to fix a belief; affecting free-will in thinking, as well as in acting."

"Delight in giddiness": Some people prefer mental instability (giddiness) to the "bondage" of fixed beliefs. They value intellectual freedom over certainty, even if it leads to inconsistency.
Free-Will in Thinking: Just as people resist constraints on their actions, they resist constraints on their thoughts. Bacon critiques those who prioritize flexibility over truth, even if it means embracing contradiction.
Historical Context: He references ancient philosophical sects (likely Skeptics or Sophists) who rejected absolute truth, though he notes that modern "discoursing wits" (intellectuals who enjoy debate for its own sake) carry on this tradition in a weaker form.

3. The Corrupt Love of Lies

"But it is not only the difficulty and labor... but a natural, though corrupt love, of the lie itself."

Beyond Practicality: People don’t just lie for pleasure (like poets) or profit (like merchants)—they sometimes love falsehood for its own sake.
"Natural, though corrupt": Bacon suggests that this love of lies is innate but morally degraded. He doesn’t fully explain why, leaving it as a psychological puzzle (a tactic to engage the reader).

4. Truth as Unflattering Reality

"This same truth, is a naked, and open day-light, that doth not show the masks, and mummeries, and triumphs, of the world, half so stately and daintily as candle-lights."

Metaphor of Light:
- Truth = "naked daylight" → Harsh, revealing, unadorned.
- Falsehood = "candle-lights" → Soft, flattering, illusory (like theater or masquerades).
Social Critique: Truth exposes the artificiality of human pretensions ("masks, mummeries, triumphs"), which look better under the dim, distorting light of falsehood.
Aesthetic Preference: People prefer the appearance of grandeur (even if false) over the plainness of truth.

5. Truth’s Value vs. Falsehood’s Allure

"Truth may perhaps come to the price of a pearl, that showeth best by day; but it will not rise to the price of a diamond, or carbuncle, that showeth best in varied lights."

Jewel Metaphors:
- Pearl → Pure, simple, best seen in daylight (truth).
- Diamond/Carbuncle → Brilliant, multifaceted, sparkling under artificial light (falsehood).
Economic Imagery: Truth is valuable but not as dazzling as falsehood. People are drawn to what appears more precious, even if it’s less substantial.

6. The Psychological Cost of Truth

"Doth any man doubt, that if there were taken out of men's minds, vain opinions, flattering hopes, false valuations, imaginations as one would, and the like, but it would leave the minds, of a number of men, poor shrunken things, full of melancholy and indisposition, and unpleasing to themselves?"

Falsehood as Psychological Crutch: Without illusions ("vain opinions," "flattering hopes"), many people would feel empty and depressed.
"Poor shrunken things": Truth strips away comforting delusions, leaving only a stark, unadorned reality that many find unbearable.
Implication: Human happiness often depends on self-deception. Bacon doesn’t condemn this outright but presents it as a tragic fact.

Literary Devices & Style

Aphoristic Style: Short, memorable statements (e.g., "truth is a naked daylight") that encourage reflection.
Metaphors & Analogies:
- Light (truth vs. falsehood)
- Jewels (pearl vs. diamond)
- Theater ("masks, mummeries")
Classical Allusions: References to Pilate, Greek philosophers, and ancient skeptics lend authority.
Paradox: Truth is valuable but unpopular; falsehood is corrupt but beloved.
Rhetorical Questions: Engages the reader (e.g., "Doth any man doubt...").
Psychological Insight: Explores why people prefer lies, not just why they tell them.

Significance & Bacon’s Broader Philosophy

Empiricism vs. Human Nature: Bacon, a founder of the scientific method, valued truth as the basis of knowledge. Yet here, he acknowledges that human psychology often resists truth, preferring comforting illusions.
Moral vs. Practical Truth: The essay doesn’t argue that truth is always better—it concedes that falsehood can be pleasurable or useful. This pragmatic approach reflects Bacon’s interest in how truth functions in society, not just its abstract value.
Influence on Later Thought: Bacon’s skepticism about human rationality foreshadows later philosophers (e.g., Nietzsche’s "will to illusion," Freud’s defense mechanisms).

Key Takeaways from the Text Itself

Truth is demanding: It requires effort to find and accept, which many avoid.
Falsehood is seductive: It flatters, entertains, and protects people from harsh realities.
Society prefers illusion: The "masks and mummeries" of life are more appealing than naked truth.
Truth’s value is intrinsic but unpopular: Like a pearl, it’s genuine but lacks the sparkle of a diamond.
Human happiness often depends on lies: Without self-deception, many would be miserable.

Bacon doesn’t resolve the tension between truth and falsehood; he presents it as an enduring paradox of human nature. The essay’s power lies in its unflinching observation of why people—despite knowing better—so often choose the lie.

Questions

Question 1

The passage suggests that the "discoursing wits" of Bacon’s time differ from the ancient philosophical sects primarily in their:

A. intellectual rigor, as they engage in more systematic inquiry than their predecessors.
B. moral seriousness, as they treat truth as an ethical obligation rather than a rhetorical game.
C. psychological insight, as they recognize the emotional roots of human deception.
D. diminished vitality, as they lack the depth and intensity of the ancient thinkers.
E. political influence, as they shape public discourse more effectively than the ancients.

Question 2

When Bacon states that truth "imposeth upon men’s thoughts," he is primarily critiquing the:

A. cognitive dissonance that arises when individuals confront evidence contradicting their beliefs.
B. authoritarian tendency of truth to suppress dissent and enforce ideological conformity.
C. mental labor required to accept and integrate truth, which many find burdensome.
D. dogmatic certainty of religious institutions that claim exclusive access to truth.
E. aesthetic inadequacy of truth, which fails to inspire the imagination like falsehood does.

Question 3

The metaphor of truth as a "naked, and open day-light" serves to emphasize its:

A. universal accessibility, as daylight is available to all regardless of status.
B. unadorned and often unflattering clarity, which strips away illusions.
C. divine origin, as daylight is traditionally associated with divine revelation.
D. transient nature, as daylight fades and gives way to the deceptions of night.
E. moral purity, as nakedness symbolizes innocence in classical iconography.

Question 4

Bacon’s comparison of truth to a pearl and falsehood to a diamond most effectively illustrates that:

A. truth possesses intrinsic but understated value, while falsehood dazzles despite its lack of substance.
B. truth is rare and precious, whereas falsehood is common and worthless in the long term.
C. truth, like a pearl, is formed through suffering, while falsehood is effortlessly brilliant.
D. truth’s beauty is objective and fixed, while falsehood’s appeal is subjective and fleeting.
E. truth is fragile and easily damaged, whereas falsehood endures under varying conditions.

Question 5

The passage’s closing lines imply that the primary reason people cling to "vain opinions" and "flattering hopes" is that these falsehoods:

A. provide a necessary buffer against the existential anxiety of an indifferent universe.
B. are socially reinforced by institutions that benefit from collective self-deception.
C. offer a creative outlet for the imagination, which truth cannot satisfy.
D. preserve a sense of self-worth and psychological comfort that truth would erode.
E. allow individuals to manipulate others more effectively than raw truth would permit.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: D

Why D is most correct: The passage explicitly states that the "discoursing wits" are "of the same veins" as the ancient sects but notes that "there be not so much blood in them," meaning they lack the same vitality or depth. This metaphor of diminished "blood" (vitality) aligns perfectly with option D.