What is Worldly Wisdom?
Wisdom is the most refined and top-notch form of knowledge. Worldly wisdom is that type of wisdom which is required to achieve success in this world. Initially, worldly wisdom favours the attainment of success through fair and good means. However, it does not condemn the evil means to gain personal advantages as well. In other terms, we may call this Machiavellianism.
Bacon's Portrayal as a Worldly Wise Man
It is indisputable that Bacon's essays teach tactics to attain worldly success through the oft. disputed worldly wisdom. Bacon was truly devoted to Renaissance which was an age of the extortion of knowledge and exploitation of power. Mr. Bacon was a highly intellectual person whose eyes were fixed at a certain goal which centred at the attainment of power, wealth and knowledge. The essays curated by Bacon also preach its readers to gain knowledge for worldly success.
Worldly Wisdom in Bacon's Essays
Mr. Bacon and his essays are a hallmark of intellectual enterprise. The core subject of Bacon's essays is the man who is living for worldly success. His essays provide a sound base to test and practice one's authority for his personal gains but not without wisdom. For instance, Bacon condemns 'cunning' not for its hateful nature, but for its unwise property. Bacon deems his essays as "counsel - civil and moral".
In his essay, "Of Truth", Mr. Bacon glorifies truth and wants us, the people to exercise truth in our lives as thus:
"A lie faces God and shrinks from man."
His main objective behind writing this sentence is to make a person fearful of the dooms day and God because God hates lie and liars. But on another moment, he asserts the importance of a lie as an alloy which 'strengthens' the quality of gold (truth) and according to him, a lie makes life colourful and enjoyable,
"A lie doth ever add pleasure."
Sir Bacon unveils the difficult and responsible life of the authority in his essay "Of Great Place" in following words,
"It is a strange desire to seek power and to lose liberty; By pains men come to greater pains"
But then, his worldly wit wakes up and he advises,
"All rising to great place is by a winding stair; and if there be factions [problems, conflicts], it is good to side a man’s self whilst he is rising and to behave himself when he is placed."
This is purely a utilitarian advise and makes Bacon's writings rather cynical (stern, kurakht).
Mr. Bacon also blesses the noble hobby of reading with his maxims pertaining to worldly wisdom. In "Of Studies", he quotes,
"Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man and writing an exact man."
Then he asserts the most intellectual but elective advise to all the readers to select books with due care [and the ones with good reputation],
"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested."
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| Mr. Bacon |
Bacon's Worldly Wisdom in his Actual Life
Bacon was a lawyer by profession. In his essay, "Of Suitors", he advised his fellowmen to tell the truth about the possible chances of winning a case to his petitioner but in other passage, Mr. Bacon dilutes his "Saint-Like" portrait and says that if a patron changes sides for the non-deserving party, then you have to charge him extra so that the deserving party should not bear any great loss. [Extremely cynical!]
Earl of Essex was Bacon's loyal patron but when he got in legal trouble, Bacon betrayed him and stood against him. Resultantly, Earl of Essex was encaged in prison. Why did Bacon grow so poisonous against the one who provided enough resources to make him the Bacon we know? The answer is simple. He wanted to appear in the good books of Queen Elizabeth. So, Bacon practised his wisdom for the worldly pursuits.
Conclusion
Manifestly, Bacon and his essays highlight his benefit seeking attitude, even in the matters of the heart. However, his Machiavelanistic essays, enriched with worldly wisdom, earnestly teaches its readers to claim worldly success.
Sources and Suggested Readings
- https://malinotes.blogspot.com/2014/03/worldly-wisdom-and-pragmatism-in-bacons.html
- http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-optional-subjects/group-v/english-literature/269-francis-bacon-worldly-wisdom.html#:~:text=The%20term%20worldly%20wisdom%20means,knowledge%20to%20be%20my%20province%E2%80%9D.
- Notes Provided by Sir Saffi
- Critical Studies on Bacon's Essays - Character of Bacon Page 16 - 20
