Anuj Pratap Singh -B.Tech ( A2305412295)

                                                             Of Studies

                                                                                            -by Francis Bacon

Summary :

Sir Francis Bacon(1561-1626) was an English statesman and philosopher who believed in the power of knowledge. Bacon wrote a series of essays in the late 1500s to the early 1600s. One of those essays was called "Of Studies." In this essay Bacon states his depiction of education and learning. He articulated that, "studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability." Bacon felt that some people gain knowledge for pure delight. People, who acquire knowledge for delight, do so because they enjoy it. For instance, those who play sports practice and learn about their sport because they want to, not because they have to. There are, however, some people who gain knowledge for mere ornament. These people only want to improve themselves in the eyes of others. These are the people who try to better themselves by bragging about their acheivements and accomplishments in conversation with others. Then there are those who gain knowledge for ability. They want to show that they are able to do something. They learn for themselves in their free time. Ability is widely used in the area of business, those who are well educated rather than those who are not better run a company. Bacon also stated that "to spend too much time in studies is sl 
Sir Francis Bacon's essay "Of Studies" discusses the benefits of studying. Its purpose is to persuade us to study as well as to instruct us on how to study if we are to make the best of what we read. He does this by using many rhetorical devices and substantiations to prove his arguments. 
Written by Sir Francis, "Of Studies" is an essay written to inform us of the benefits of studying. Studying is applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject, especially through reading, which is perhaps why by 'studying', Sir Francis Bacon mostly refers to reading. In his short essay, he strives to persuade us to study, and tells us how to study if we are to make the best of what we read. He does this by using many rhetorical devices and substantiations to prove his arguments. 

'Of Studies' main point is to be evidence for the benefits of studying. Sir Francis Bacon attempts to prove to us that "studies serve for delight, for ornament and for discourse" by showing us how education is used and can be used in our lives. 

Bacon felt that there are three types of men. They are reasonably straightforward and require diminutive thought. He expressed, "crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them. " Education can be taken to extreme by spending excessive time studying. Wise men are those who are educated and apply what they have learned to their lives. Simple men are those who are uneducated, but have a high regard for those who are. They put down those who gain success through education. Education is meant to be preparation for the real world. For instnace, in addition to reading the book, people may need to read the cliff's notes or watch the movie. Often there will be more to parts of the books than some people are able to grasp. These books are read at face value and their points are not often questioned. Bacon feels people should read to decide which books have information that will benefit them in their life experiences. He thought that, "reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. People mustn't trust everything they read; they ought to filter the information through their own experiences. Information may not always be true; people need to ask questions and decide whether their source is reliable.