Francis Bacon Essay

It his essay that is called “Of Great Place”, Francis Bacon led a great discussion concerning the position of an administrator. I want to mention that nevertheless it was written more than 400 years ago, it still contains useful advice that is also valid nowadays.
So, “Of great place” is about public affairs and politics and it can be applicable to a number of administrative positions, for example, presidents, kings, business executives, deans, lord chancellors and department chairmen. It is interesting to mention that it starts by stressing that the more one person is the boss the more he or she becomes a slave. (BENNETT) Bacon in this essay says the following:
“Men in great place are thrice servants: servants of the sovereign or state; servants of fame; and servants of business. So as they have no freedom, neither in their persons, nor in their actions, nor in their times. It is a strange desire, to seek power and to lose liberty: or to seek power over others and to lose power over a man’s self. The rising into place is laborious; and by pains men come to greater pains; and it is sometimes base; and by indignities men come to dignities.”
We all know that only few department chairmen are appointed after active seeking to get such a post. And most likely the department chairmen are selected for leadership because of character revelations, needed qualifications, strong will and long commitment. In addition, often such individuals have shown great judgment and desire to work unselfishly, generously and helpfully, and mostly, at significant cost to their prestige and private scientific productivity. As a result, some time later they see themselves servants of their organizations, of society, and of many people, and on one hand, they are free and have the power to decide what they want, but on the other hand, they are constantly in bondage to the course of events.
Moreover, according to the Farr (2011), if someone is entrusted with decision-making or policy-setting regarding the huge population, he or she should definitely consider all the possible arguments that are for and against the decision. In addition, meanwhile, predisposition and personal bias may be a part of information that is used for the opinion stating, it is really good to know why there are other opinions to the contrary. So, before somebody claims an opinion, he or she should predict the public response concerning the statement as well as meet the consequences. As a result, while somebody looks for support of his or her position, it is rather wise to ask, “Is there anybody who is against that and if yes, what will he or she say?” It is a good way to find where the two sides arguing the point stand and the way they will react.
“Seek to make thy course regular, that men may know beforehand what they may expect; but be not too positive and peremptory…” and “express thyself well when thou digressest from thy rule.”
In other words it means, “You should do all the things that you have said you would do before you were elected after being elected” and “In case you don’t do this, you should have a really good reason for not doing.” In addition, we often hear about the officials who might need to change his mind after new facts. Francis advised the following regarding that:
“Whosoever is found variable, and changeth manifestly without manifest cause, giveth suspicion of corruption…”
“If you change your mind you’d better, once again, have a good reason.”
“Tell people the good reasons that made you change your mind.”
“Therefore always when thou changest thine opinion or course, profess it plainly, and declare it, together with the reasons that move thee to change…”
Hence, we all know that people is not satisfied when an official changes his mind, however, if he may give good reasons for that change, then the official shows integrity and truthfulness.
In addition, Bacon says what should be done once you have occupied power. At first, people who received power should study examples that are both good and evil. They also need to set the best examples of the individuals who have become great and famous. People who received power should not also ignore the reasons why the previous persons suffered dishonor and downfall.
Furthermore, a man in great place must create good instance and that’s why Bacon reports: “Seek to make thy course regular, that man may know beforehand what they may expect.” Than Bacon warns against four possible vices:
Delay
Corruption
Roughness
Facility.
Bacon tells about the pains and discomforts of people that feature the high rank, however, in “Of great place” we can also find some crooked methods how to capture power.
It is also important to say that to my point of view, “Of great place” features the idea of an opportunist.
Hence, we know that there are a great number of really valuable ideas; nevertheless Kabir reports that it has not only wrong but also materialistic ideas.
Bacon says the following concerning that, “…it is good to side a man’s self whilst he is in the rising, and to balance himself when he is placed”. We will all agree that it is a really evil away to occupy power. Moreover, as for me, it is betrayal and deception as it is absolutely against basic Machiavelli’s philosophy. So, I am totally sure that from the moral point of view and from the Islamic ideas, the self-centered and selfish philosophy cannot be fostered.

Finally, I want to add that personally I like his advice concerning the corruption that says: “do not only bind thine own hands, or thy servants’ hands, from taking, but bind the hands of suitors also, from offering.”
In conclusion, Francis Bacon’s essay “Of great place” was written more than 400 years ago, however it still features useful advice that is also valid nowadays. Nevertheless, some pieces of Bacon’s advice are rather evil and cannot be regarded as those that are worth operating as they include self-centered and selfish ideas.