The Opus Majus of Roger Bacon

by Roger Bacon

Bacon's "Opus Majus" is one of the most influential scientific and philosophical texts of its ages, and the high point of medieval knowledge of the physical sciences. Roger Bacon (c.1214-92) was the forerunner of modern scienfitic method, stressing the importance of systematic observation and experiment in the study of natural phenomena. He was ahead of his time in advocating the use of chemistry in medicine and the sue of mathematics in explaining astronomy and physics. Many of his experiments, particularly in optics, were ground-breaking, and his inventions were numerous - he is credited with devising the magnifying glass, a vacuum-globe balloon, eye glasses and the telescope. He believed the Earth to be round and that one could sial aroun it, he was the first Westerner to describe in detail the process of making gunpowder, and he even foresaw the inventioin of aircraft, motorized ships and cars. In the "Opus Majus" Bacon makes a plea for the reform of education, emphasizing the rightful role of the sciences in the university curriculum and the interdependence of the various disciplines. Prepared in 1267 at the request of Pope Clement IV, the treatise is a collection of ideas, an encyclopedia of knowledge embracing all science including language, logic, optics, mathematics, moral philosophy and physics. This is a facsimile of the 1928 edition, the only complete English translation.

Genres: Philosophy, Science, Nonfiction, Theology, Classics, Religion

868 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

born perhaps 1214
died 1292

Opus Majus (1267) of English friar and philosopher Roger Bacon, known as "Doctor Mirabilis," argued that Christian studies encompass the sciences.

This Franciscan, a member of Order of Friars Minor, whose scholastic accolade means "wonderful teacher," placed considerable emphasis on nature through empirical methods. The works of Aristotle and later pseudo-works like those of Abu Ali al-Hasan ibn al-Haytham of Egypt inspire the modern method, which he in Europe earliest advocated, as people, mainly starting in the 19th century, sometimes credit him. From books, he, essentially a medieval thinker, obtained much of his "experiment" in the scholastic tradition, as more recent reevaluations emphasize. Reception of work of Bacon often reflects the central concerns and controversies over centuries, according to as a survey.

Reviews

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing work.

First of all, if you have any need at all for additional interpretations of ancient writers (perhaps even some forgotten translations or interpretations of him) this book is incredibly enjoyable for that reason. This work also delineates various different miracles that have happened throughout time (some of which are in the Bible, some of which are obviously not). I thought this was an excellent way to give historical and anecdotal evidence of God's existence.

Secondly, if you are at all interested in astronomy or synthetic geometry, this book is a treasure trove of Optics, Astronomy, and just geometrical concepts in general. Euclid is certainly used as a justification for Aristotleian metaphysics as Roger Bacon delineates the structure of units, numbers, points, lines, and everything they create. The quod erat demonstradums do not stop at the geometrical or arithmetical relations however, they continue onward to various moral, theological, and philosophical concepts.

The very starts themselves, and planets, actually compose an entire section of the book where Roger Bacon gives predictions regarding the future of the world and the world's religions as we know it. Things hid by obscurity, cloud, and smoke, in the past, present, and future are surely revealed through this work for those interested in esoteric reasoning, and possibly forgotten interpretations of worldly historical and astronomical events. The different constellations, latitude of location on the Earth's surface, and various other elements determine the nature of one's and one's civilization's existence and even help us to understand the nature of the characters of their rise and fall.

Bacon's chief strength is in the amount of worldly wisdom he has acquired throughout the years, and certainly the amount of religious knowledge. Cultural, historical, and spiritual, his knowledge of the difference religions and the different sects of Christianity is remarkable. He has a healthy respect for Islam and Judaism above all other religions, as one should, being that those religions have in mind the history of civilization with God in mind. A must read for one interested in theology, astronomy, mathematics, spirituality, or even philosophy.

[Seowon · Rating 5 out of 5]

def not a casual read lmao