John Amos Comenius and Francis Bacon: Two Early Modern Paths to the Restoration of Knowledge

0503451 - FLÚ 2019 RIV CZ eng J - Journal Article
Čížek, Jan
John Amos Comenius and Francis Bacon: Two Early Modern Paths to the Restoration of Knowledge.
Acta Comeniana. -, 31/55 (2017), s. 9-22. ISSN 0231-5955
Institutional support: RVO:67985955
Keywords : Jan Amos Comenius * Francis Bacon * Early Modern philosophy * Reform of knowledge * Pansophy
OECD category: Philosophy, History and Philosophy of science and technology
Method of publishing: Metadata only

Since the very beginning of modern Comenius studies there have been attempts to examine the relationship of the Czech philosopher, theologian, and educational reformer Jan Amos Comenius (1592–1670) to the English philosopher and statesman Francis Bacon (1561–1626). A study dealing with the efforts of both philosophers to reform philosophy (or knowledge in general) is, nevertheless, still lacking. The aim of this paper is, therefore, to introduce Comenius’s relationship to the work of Francis Bacon in this regard. In the first part, the author presents an overview of Comenius’s references to Bacon. The following section focuses on a description and comparison of the structure and fundamental concepts held by both Comenius and Bacon in their works relevant for the topic. In the last part of the paper, the reader will find the characteristics of both philosophers’ projects of the restoration of knowledge (of their basis, idea, and goal). The author concludes that although both Comenius and Bacon directed their intellectual powers towards restoring the original immaculate knowledge of Adam, they approached its implementation in their own unique and original ways.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0295296