The darkness which lay over the beginnings
of modern English philosophy has been but incompletely dispelled by
the meritorious work of Ch. de Rémusat (Histoire de la Philosophie en
Angleterre depuis Bacon jusqu'a Locke 2 vols., 1878). The most recent
investigations of J. Freudenthal (Beiträge zur Geschichte der Englischen
Philosophie in the Archiv für Geschichte der Philosophie vols. iv. and
v., 1891) have brought assistance in a way deserving of thanks, since they
lift at important points the veil which concealed Bacon's relations to his
predecessors and contemporaries, by describing the scientific tendencies
and achievements of Digby and Temple. The following may be taken from his
results.
Everard Digby (died 1592; chief work, Theoria Analytica,1579),
instructor in logic in Cambridge from 1573, who was strongly influenced
by Reuchlin and who favored an Aristotelian-Alexandrian-Cabalistic
eclecticism, was the first to disseminate Neoplatonic ideas in England;
and, in spite of the lack of originality in his systematic presentation of
theoretical philosophy, aroused the study of this branch in England into
new life. His opponent, Sir William Temple [1] (1553-1626), by his defense
and exposition of the doctrine of Ramus (introduced into Great Britain by
George Buchanan and his pupil, Andrew Melville), made Cambridge the chief
center of Ramism. He was the first who openly opposed Aristotle.
[Footnote 1: Temple was secretary to Philip Sidney, William Davison, and
the Earl of Essex, and, from 1619, Provost of Trinity College, Dublin.
His maiden work, De Unica P. Rami Methodo which he published under the
pseudonym, Mildapettus 1580, was aimed at Digby's De Duplici Methodo His
chief work, P. Rami Dialectics Libri Dua Scholiis, Illustrati appeared
in 1584.]
Bacon was undoubtedly acquainted with both these writers and took ideas
from both. Digby represented the scholastic tendency, which Bacon
vehemently opposed, yet without being able completely to break away
from it. Temple was one of those who supplied him with weapons for this
conflict. Finally, it must be mentioned that many of the English scientists
of the time, especially William Gilbert (1540-1603; De Magnete 1600),
physician to Queen Elizabeth, used induction in their work before Bacon
advanced his theory of method.
