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B

BACON, FRANCIS (1561–1626). He
developed an elegant case for empirical,
scientific inquiry that was free from
superstition and based on applying
inductive reasoning to empirical observa-
tions. He warned readers against the ways
in which popular fashion can shape one’s
beliefs. Clear thinking was a religious duty
and to become prey to untrustworthy
methods was a form of idolatry. He pro-
moted science as a cooperative, commu-
nal task motivated by Christian charity.
Bacon argued that while some philosophy
can lead one away from God, further
philosophy will return one to God. His
chief works include: Essays (first published
1597), Two Books on the Advancement of
Learning (1605), The New Organon (1620),
and The New Atlantis (1627).

BACON, ROGER (c. 1214–1294). Eng-
lish philosopher who advanced a high
view of mathematics and experiential-
experimental inquiry. He also believed
there was a role for divine, inner illumi-
nation. His works include Opus Maius
(1267), Opus Minus (1267), Opus Tertium

(1267), Compendium of Studies in Philo-

sophy (1271), and Compendium of Studies

in Theology (1292). He is sometimes

known as the admirable doctor (Latin:

doctor abmirabalis).

BAD FAITH. Originally from the French,

mauvaise foi. A term introduced by Jean-

Paul Sartre in Being and Nothingness

(1943), having to do with the state of lying

to oneself, or self-deception. A general

description of this concept would be

treating oneself as the other, even dissoci-

ating oneself from one’s own actions,

which is abhorrent to Sartre and his view

that individuals are a “single project,” not

divided into parts and certainly not into

unknown parts. Christian philosophers

such as Merold Westphal have given a

central role to exposing cases when believ-

ers as well as skeptics are prey to bad faith

or self-deception. See also FAITH, SELF-

DECEPTION.

BAGHDAD SCHOOL. A Muslim center

for scholarship, philosophy, and theology