Francis Bacon on Magick: The Bridge Between Science and the Occult

Francis Bacon, often credited with laying the foundation for the modern scientific method, had a nuanced view of magic, particularly within the context of his time. In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, magic was a broad term, encompassing various practices ranging from alchemy and astrology to necromancy. Bacon, however, sought to redefine magic in ways that aligned with empirical investigation and natural philosophy. He distinguished sharply between what he called “vulgar magic,” steeped in superstition and deception, and “natural magic,” a legitimate means of understanding and controlling nature.

Bacon’s Critique of “Vulgar Magic”

Bacon was highly critical of traditional forms of magic, such as divination, astrology, and ritual-based sorcery, which he believed were not based on rational principles or observable facts. He referred to these practices as "vulgar magic" and dismissed them as futile, harmful, and built upon ignorance. In his view, this type of magic was driven by human desires to control the unknown without a true understanding of the natural world. Bacon argued that such practices were little more than superstition, detached from reason and empirical evidence. For him, the problem lay not only in the lack of scientific basis but also in the way "vulgar magic" discouraged genuine inquiry into the natural world.

Title page for 'The Advancement of Learning' by Francis Bacon, 1640

The Concept of “Natural Magic”

On the other hand, Bacon was an advocate for a form of magic he termed “natural magic.” This, in his view, was closely tied to natural philosophy, what we would today call science. Bacon believed that natural magic could offer a deeper understanding of the laws of nature and enable humans to manipulate these laws to produce desired effects. In his work De augmentis scientiarum, he explored this idea, arguing that true magic, unlike superstition, was grounded in the knowledge of nature’s inner workings.

Bacon’s view of natural magic was influenced by Renaissance humanism and the works of earlier scholars like Agrippa and Paracelsus, who had also attempted to reconcile science with mystical practices. However, Bacon sought to systematize and demystify these approaches, advocating for experimentation, observation, and the inductive method as the basis for gaining knowledge. For him, natural magic was simply a precursor to science - a way of mastering the natural world through understanding, rather than through invocation or supernatural forces.

The title page of ‘Sylva Sylvarum’ by Sir Francis Bacon, published in 1639.

The Role of Empirical Knowledge

In Bacon's Novum Organum, which outlined his inductive method for acquiring knowledge, he subtly referred to the power of understanding nature as a form of magic. However, this was not magic in the supernatural sense, but in the sense that mastering the principles of nature could appear miraculous to those unfamiliar with them. Bacon believed that by observing nature, collecting data, and applying reason, humanity could uncover the “hidden workings” of the world - what he referred to as the “secrets of nature.” This was, in essence, a scientific approach to magic: producing effects that, to the uninformed, might seem magical, but were rooted in the laws of nature.

In his work 'The Advancement of Learning', Bacon discussed how magic, when properly understood, could reveal these secrets and allow humans to manipulate nature to their advantage. He envisioned a future where the methods of natural magic would evolve into a form of applied science, capable of bringing about great improvements in human life, such as advancements in medicine, agriculture, and technology. This, he believed, was the true path forward - not the superstition and mystical practices of “vulgar magic,” but the systematic and disciplined study of the natural world.

Magic and the Mastery of Nature

Bacon’s ultimate goal in advocating for “natural magic” was not only to understand nature but to master it. He famously wrote that “knowledge is power,” and for him, this power was intrinsically tied to the ability to control and manipulate the natural world. Magic, in this sense, was less about mystery and more about empowerment through understanding. By discovering and applying the principles of natural magic, humanity could bring about significant change in the world, leading to what Bacon saw as the true purpose of knowledge: to improve human existence.

This theme is particularly evident in his utopian work New Atlantis, where Bacon imagines a society built on the principles of natural magic and scientific inquiry. In this fictional society, scientists (called the “Merchants of Light”) actively seek out the secrets of nature, discovering new technologies and practices that benefit all of humanity. The leaders of this society are not priests or magicians, but scholars who use their knowledge of nature to create a prosperous and harmonious world. This reflects Bacon’s belief that the true “magicians” of the future would be scientists, armed with empirical knowledge and the ability to apply it.

The Legacy of Bacon’s Magick

Though Bacon never directly practiced what might be called magic in the traditional sense, his vision of natural magic laid the groundwork for the development of modern science. By encouraging the pursuit of empirical knowledge and emphasizing the power of observation and experimentation, Bacon helped to shift the focus away from superstition and towards a more rational, evidence-based understanding of the world.

In this way, Bacon’s work can be seen as a bridge between the mystical and the scientific. He acknowledged the human desire to manipulate the world and achieve control over nature, but he insisted that this could only be done through reason, knowledge, and experimentation—not through incantations or mystical rites. His emphasis on understanding nature’s laws and using them to improve human life resonates with the goals of both the scientific revolution and modern technological advancement.