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- Bacon, Roger 1214-1292. English philosopher
- and scientist, a teacher at Oxford
- University. In 1266, at the invitation of his
- friend Pope Clement IV, he began his Opus
- Majus/Great Work, a compendium of all
- branches of knowledge. In 1268 he sent this
- with his Opus Minus/Lesser Work and other
- writings to the pope. In 1277 Bacon was
- condemned and imprisoned by the church for
- `certain novelties' (heresy) and not released
- until 1292. He was interested in alchemy, the
- biological and physical sciences and magic.
- Many discoveries have been credited to him,
- including the magnifying lens. He foresaw the
- extensive use of gunpowder and mechanical
- cars, boats, and planes. Bacon was born in
- Somerset and educated at Oxford and Paris. He
- became a Franciscan monk and was in Paris
- until about 1251 lecturing on Aristotle. He
- wrote in Latin and his works include On
- Mirrors, Metaphysical Questions, and On the
- Multiplication of Species. He followed the
- maxim `Cease to be ruled by dogmas and
- authorities; look at the world!'
-