Introduction

You must have come across the question “what is the importance of studies?” at
some point in your life. Indeed this is a pertinent question and needs to be answered. Before
we think about the answer, Francis Bacon has already answered the question. Before we go
into the essay “Of Studies“, let’s throw some light on Bacon’s life and writing style.
Francis Bacon (1561–1626) is regarded as the “father of the English essay” and is one
of the most celebrated writers of English Essayist. The Advancement of Learning (1605)
reflects the utilitarian attitude to learning which is later echoed in the essay “Of Studies”.
Bacon’s Prose style

The prose style of Bacon is the inductive method of reasoning– the method of
proceeding from the particular to the general- which may be seen to be at work in the
epigrammatic nature of his essays. Francis Bacon has established himself as an essayist
among the general readers through the Fifty-eight Essays.
Prose style in Of Studies

These essays are best known for their collection of a lifetime’s experience of the world
and its ways. It is is a well-known essay. It is enriched with Latin vocabularies, intellectual
wisdom, logical arguments, and practical knowledge. Bacon adopts a didactic and pragmatic
approach throughout the essay.
Summary and analysis – Of Studies by Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon of studies

Of Studies highlights the importance of studies in one’s life. At the beginning of the
essay Francis Bacon tells the readers that the three important benefits of reading are
“studying for gaining delight, for ornamenting one’s life and to improve one’s ability” (Bacon
3).
First, studies can provide pleasure in private time; second studies can provide
ornamentation in our speech, by ornament Bacon means beautiful presentation or exhibition
of words in conversation, and lastly, studies also improve one’s “ability” to judgment in
business and related pursuits.
According to Francis Bacon, expert men with worldly experience can carry out plans
and judge a particular circumstance, but those who study or learned men are better than
them in understanding important matters, giving advice, and knowing how to deal with daily
affairs.
Abuse of studies

However, Bacon also, on the other hand, puts forward some effects of excessive
reading. Francis Bacon states in the essay that too much studying leads one to laziness, too
much involvement in studies results in affectation, showing off of knowledge. Too much
involvement in bookish knowledge may draw a line book and reality which ultimately
distance one from the real world. The act of judging a situation based on theoretical
knowledge solely without learning from the real world is not right. Therefore equilibrium must
be maintained and that should be kept in mind.
Francis Bacon emphasizes the value of practical knowledge, and studies are useful only
when our bookish knowledge is supplemented by practical experience because the natural
abilities of a person, like natural plants, are nurtured and enhanced by studies, but studies
without experience lead to confusion in dealing with the outside world. Therefore, for Bacon,
the study is always fruitful when it is applied in practical life and it is only the wise men
implement knowledge practically whatever they have acquired from books in life.
Real purpose of studies

Francis Bacon here reinforces the real purpose of studies in the essay. Bacon warns
the educated man that one should not read not to sharpen logical reasoning competency as
it is seen around the groups of intellectuals that they use their knowledge only to defeat the
rival’s argument or show off their ability in reasoning; one should not read with a belief that
studies always lead to the correct behavior or understanding; lastly, one should not read not
to use knowledge merely to make one’s speech forceful while having a conversation with
others. Rather, Bacon argues, the real purpose of reading should be to sharpen our
faculties, understanding, and judgment.
How to read books

Furthermore, Francis Bacon advises his readers on how to read books in the essay.
Bacon says that some books are only meant to be tasted which are meant for mere pleasure
and read only partially. Mostly fictional books are read for pleasure. On the other hand, some
books that are informative in nature are to be swallowed, these books are to be read not
curiously but memorized for practical implementation. Theoretical books are read with the
purpose of memorization so that they can be used in real life.
Moreover, some books like scientific books are meant for chewing and digesting
properly, that is, to read with great diligence and attention to understand perfectly and to get
the permanent benefits out of them.
Therefore, choosing a book is the job of the reader and the reader should choose
according to his/her need. Bacon also recommends reading by deputy but in case of
important books, they should not be read in extracts or summaries. Now it is up to the reader
which book should be read in extract or which not.
of studies
Bacon returns to addressing the effects of reading, discussion, and writing. He states,
reading makes a full man; conference leads to a ready man while writing makes an exact
man
(Bacon 3)
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Reading makes us analytical being; the act of discussion sharpens our intelligence;
and writing, by which Bacon usually means argumentative essay writing, strengthens our
memory and makes us sharp-witted.
Samuel Johnson also advocates the importance of reading, writing, and conversation
in the On studies (1753). Johnson’s main argument in his essay On studies centers around
the reference from “Of Studies” that states
It is observed by Bacon, that “reading makes a full man, conversation a ready man, and
writing an exact man
Bacon 1
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Benefits of studying different subjects
 Francis Bacon also discusses the benefits of reading diverse fields of knowledge like
history, poetry, mathematics, philosophy, etc. In the essay Francis Bacon states,
Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep;
moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend
(Bacon 3).
History, Bacon states, makes men wise; it makes us aware of what has already
happened and its causes of occurrence and provides an insight into past events from which
we can learn the mistakes of people and lessons from it so that it won’t repeat.
Poetry sharpens our understanding; poetry improves our critical thinking ability
because by reading poetry one delves into the psyche of the poet which is hard to
understand. So this act of reading, in the long run, develops our insight and sharpens our
intellect.
Mathematics increases our subtle intelligence; by dealing with the numerical numbers
or abstract problem mathematics helps us to improve our power of reasoning,
problem-solving capacity.
Philosophy intensifies our powers of realization, studying the rudimentary nature of
reality; existence makes us realize the true nature of everything around us.
The morality that provides us dignity; reading moral principles and adhering to them
help us to live a dignified and happy life.
Lastly, logic and rhetoric make us skilled in an argument. Rhetoric is the art of writing
and speaking persuasively. By combing these two skills- logic and rhetoric, it improves our
skill in argumentation and to assert our opinions persuasively.
Further, Bacon states that there is no problem of mind that cannot be resolved by the
appropriate study just as the right physical exercise improves the condition of various parts
of the body. Every disorder of the mind has a cure and the solution lies in reading books.
For example, for a distracted man, he should study mathematics because it will teach
him to concentrate on the action. If the reader wishes to look into the subtleties of a matter
then the reader should study the philosophers and theologians of the Middle Ages and if he
wishes to improve his/her power of association then he should study law.
Conclusion

Therefore we can conclude that the theme of Francis Bacon’s “Of Studies” deals with
the benefits of reading for the individuals in their daily lives. From reading books to writing
papers, study plays a vital role in a man’s life making him learned, witty, and experienced.
Although the essay is lack of any emotional expressions, it is nevertheless a wonderful effort
of imparting the readers about the importance of studying.
Works Cited