The First Political Memorandum of Francis Bacon

Abstract

The outstanding English thinker of the late 16th — the first quarter of the 17th centuries Francis Bacon (1561—1626) in scientific research and teaching materials is represented mainly as a philosopher, the founder of empiricism, etc. At the same time F. Bacon was not only a philosopher, but the largest political theorist and figure of the new European period, whose ideas are still relevant. The first evidence of F. Bacon's entry into politics is his remarkable political Memorandum — “Letter of advice to Queen Elizabeth”, written by him in the mid-1580s at the age of about twenty-three years. This document presents a detailed and reasonable assessment of both domestic political, ideological and socio-economic relations in the English society, and a thorough analysis of external threats to the English state, outlined ways to strengthen the security of England. As the analysis of the letter shows, already in his youth F. Bacon considered the achievement of peace, harmony and stability as the ideological and political basis of the state. It is not a coincidence that later the concept of social harmony has become a key element of all its theoretical and practical political activities that serve the sustainable development of English society.