New Atlantis

Summary

New Atlantis is an utopian novel by Sir Francis Bacon, published in 1627. In New Atlantis Bacon portrays a vision of the future of human discovery and knowledge, expressing his aspirations and ideals for humankind. The novel depicts the creation of a utopian land where "generosity and enlightenment, dignity and splendor, piety and public spirit" are the commonly held qualities of the inhabitants of Bensalem, a city named so after the Hebrew words interpreted as the complete son.. The plan and organisation of his ideal college, Solomon's House, envisioned the modern research university in both applied and pure sciences. The book presents unlimited power for the rule of self appointed "scientific" experts - for example it is forbidden to even tell ordinary people that the Earth goes round the Sun. There are no legal principles of natural justice limiting the power of this elite of "scientific" experts in Sir Francis Bacon's version of utopia.