The Advancement of Learning [Kindle Edition]

Francis Bacon (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 311 KB
• Publisher: Public Domain Books (April 1, 2004)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000JQUD7K
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,178 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
  • #39 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Philosophy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a good edition unless you are proficient at Latin, March 24, 2011

By 

Jeffrey Van Wagoner (Gilbert, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Advancement of Learning (Kindle Edition)

I have been working my way through many of the classics and taking advantage of the Kindle Freebies. Some editions have been very useful, this was not. My main complaint is that this book has neither footnotes nor a glossary. Normally that is not a serious problem, but in this case it is critical since Bacon quotes almost everything in Latin and they are the main points of his thoughts. I scanned google books for other editions and found that it was fairly common to include a section with translations of the Latin and a glossary of the uncommon English words or phrases used by Bacon. I do not know if any of these editions are on the Kindle, but if they are, it would be worth paying some money for these features, especially if they were hyperlinked.

Otherwise, this is supposed to be a groundbreaking book on the subject of learning. At the time Bacon wrote this, they had very different ideas about education and this book got things rolling in the direction that we are at today. Bacon starts out talking about all of the reasons that were commonly used to justify not educating the masses and gives reasons why they may or may not be true. He then goes on to propose things that should and should not be taught.

The book is addressed to the king, and I had forgotten how obsequious that people used to be towards royalty. Out modern tastes make it seem like serious brown-nosing. Much of what he talks about seems very foreign to us, since those types of ideas are long-gone from society. It really made me appreciate not living during those times. They style was also somewhat difficult for me to follow and is one of the more difficult reads I have had in recent years. Not understanding Latin did not help.

I cannot recommend this edition to anyone other than those fluent in Latin. I would search for an edition with hyperlinked translations to the Latin and a glossary of unusual terms and pay the small amount of money required.