Knowledge is Power, John Henry

Knowledge is Power: how magic, the government, and an apocalyptic vision inspired Francis Bacon to create modern science by John Henry.  I picked this up at a book sale when I was reading a book about the creation of the term "scientist."  I have read Bacon's New Atlantis, so I was aware that he had a Utopian concept of how the world should operate in the pursuit of science and I was also aware that Bacon is credited with the creation of the Scientific Method.

Started:  1/14/2017
Completed: 1/23/2017
Recommendation: Recommended
Recommended By:  Nobody

Review:

The view of magic held at the time of Francis Bacon is not at all what I expected and is the single largest thing that I take away from this book.  I have found overlap between the concept of magic at this time and the concepts behind current homeopathy and it is interesting to me that magicians were far more into experimentation than natural philosophers.  It makes sense, given the chemical manipulations behind alchemy, but I just never looked at magic that way.  Bacon himself (independent of his ideas) has held little interest for me, but I'm glad to understand him better and to realize that he was not necessarily a man of good character himself.

It was no surprise to me that Bacon saw his pursuit of science as part of his understanding of God and that perspective just makes so much more sense for a man of his time than a secret atheist.

The text is quite dry and the presentation of material lacks the value of a compelling narrative.  Having said that, it feels like a series of lectures from a very good professor.  So, while it may take some struggle to fight through the book, the time is well spent as the material itself is so interesting.