This chapter examines the contribution of Francis Bacon to early modern philosophy. It argues that Bacon's work is not limited to epistemology and scientific methodology, and explains that he also wrote treatises on such disparate topics as ethics, politics, aesthetics, religion, and law. The chapter discusses Bacon's theory of matter, his view about the relationship between art and nature, and his critique of the anthropocentric view of the universe. It also highlights his belief on the importance of understanding the difference (...) between the unaware perception of nature and the sentient awareness of human knowledge. (shrink)