Introduction
Philosopher Francis Bacon is seen as the founder of modern philosophy, and one can see the shift from the pre-modern to the modern world in his ideas. Although Bacon is often perceived as a defender of English colonial policy, Irving (2006) argues that the philosopher’s views are not well-studied.
Discussion
Bacon supported the empire’s expansion not through lands but in an epistemic way – through knowledge. Being humanistic, he opposed the indigenous population’s destruction to obtain land. Considering the pre-modern and the modern world shifts, the key differences between these periods are faster changes in society and its diversity in the modern world. Science began to develop, ideas about people’s rights appeared, and the position of individuals became less dependent on their status at birth.
People’s attitudes and the society in which they live are continuously changing. Considering immigration, health care, and citizenship status, I want attitudes to shift toward ethics, humanism, multiculturalism, and diversity. I also support Bacon’s view that countries should expand through their knowledge. The search for empirical evidence will make health care more effective, and ethics and humanism will promote trust in medicine. Free immigration, in turn, can help exchange knowledge and its development.
Conclusion
Considering citizenship, I like the idea of global citizenship: individuals should know that they belong to a piece of land and can influence the whole world. Roadmap to such a world requires efforts in several directions – education, which instills appropriate values; promoting diversity and combating inequality; supporting research and technology development.
Reference
Irving, S. (2006). ‘In a pure soil’: Colonial anxieties in the work of Francis Bacon. History of European Ideas, 32(3), 249-262. Web.