New Atlantis: A Comparative Study of Utopian Ideals

This essay delves into Francis Bacon's 'New Atlantis,' comparing it to Thomas More's utopian ideals and exploring its focus on knowledge and scientific advancement. The essay examines the fictional island of Bensalem and Salomon's House, highlighting the emphasis on dignity, piety, and public spirit. It contrasts the interpretations of Peter Lucas and Richard Serjeantson, analyzing Bacon's vision for state-sponsored scientific research and its impact on modern science and science fiction. The analysis considers the potential dangers of unchecked scientific progress, concluding that 'New Atlantis' offers a prescient vision of the future, emphasizing the importance of vision and purpose in scientific endeavors. The essay acknowledges the work's contribution to English Literature and modern science fiction, and its portrayal of a Utopian world. It also acknowledges the importance of controlling scientific discoveries to prevent dystopian outcomes.

Running head: NEW ATLANTIS, THE UTOPIA
Utopia and New Atlantis
Name of Student:
Name of University:
Author Note

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Thomas More had presented a world which was most ideal. The society which was
depicted in the socio political satire was self-contained and complex. The book portrayed its
political, religious and social customs. It was presented in the form of a frame narrative which
described a perfect world which was only imagined. Whereas, on the other hand, the unfinished
work of Francis Bacon, The New Atlantis focused on the future of knowledge and human
beings’ pursuit to explore and discover. He expressed his own ideals and aspirations for mankind
through his work. New Atlantis has been read and interpreted in many ways, Peter Lucas is of
the opinion that New Atlantis is a science picture which laid foundation for the genre. On the
other hand, the competing interpretation of Richard Serjeantson tends to relate it to the earlier
forms of knowledge and discoveries rather than modern science and practices.
In the novel, Bacon puts across the creation of a fictional land where qualities such as
dignity, generosity, public spirit, piety are esteemed as traits and qualities which used to be part
of the culture and society of mythical Bensalem. The mythical island of Bensalem is discovered
by people who loses their way in the Pacific Ocean and come to know about Salomon’s House.
This is the center of the kingdom which has been discovered and many secrets of the world id
concealed and kept safe in this place. The people who reside in this island are pious and chase.
They have extremely high morals, character and honesty is esteemed highly. It is a practice that
no officials in this land takes any payment or remuneration from others for services or favors
done. It is seen at the later part of the book that one of the European Visitors who discovered the

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land on being lost in the Pacific Ocean, is taken to the Salomon’s House. The place where all the
secrets are kept safe are shown to him. The experiments which are carried out, are done in
Baconian manner which intends to understand the course of nature but only to conquer them.
These attempts are only to improve society and make advancements towards future.
However, the European Visitor is shown how power has been centralized to this place.
He is acquainted with knowledge and governance of the mythical place. The preparations which
are done in order to carry out the experiments are laid out in front of him. This was the ideal
portrayal of the future which Bacon had foreseen. He, in his unfinished book expressed about the
discoveries which mankind was yet to do and knowledge would have been the catalyst behind all
such explorations about the world.
The text has presented a world which is a work of fiction and fantasy. The Novel has
played a great role in the evolution and development of modern science and work of fiction
(Lucas, 2018). Modern science has been viewed differently ever since. Therefore, in literature
too, science has also been represented in several ways. Peter Lucas is of the opinion that Francis
Bacon’s New Atlantis has been given a form of science fiction which aims to predict and analyze
what lies in the future. It is less common to note that science has drawn inspiration of science
fiction, which is the case in New Atlantis. Science fiction has always represented and drawn
examples of scientific innovations from science itself. The early researchers were then

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contributing to what we today known as science and technology collectively. Lucas further
explains, “A wise monarch reading the New Atlantis would find therein many suggestions
concerning the ways that physical resources and efforts could be profitably invested for an
impressive scientific and technological reward. But this same monarch need not worry that in
following Bacon’s suggestions s/he must necessarily fear for the security of the crown.” The
world was still yet to know about what science and knowledge was capable of discovering.
Francis Bacon with his novel New Atlantis established to the world and showed paths to science
and research about what can be achieved with the help of state sponsored scientific research. It
was not perceived like that before that it was barely in practice too.
Francis Bacon’s interests were more directed towards the scientific practices and methods
which is evident in his formulation of Salomon’s house which has laid foundation to scientific
research which is funded by state bodies. His writing was powerful and intended to convey
messages to the political power of his time to make investments in resources and researches
which would have ultimately contributed to the development and growth of nature and society of
his time. Peter Lucas argues that New Atlantis has advocated about progress, research and ways
to conquer nature. This, Bacon opines with unfinished work by portraying the Utopian world
which he imagined to be perfect and lied at the other side of the Pacific Ocean and made
attempts to discover the world.

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Whereas, on the other hand, Richard Serjeantson is of the opinion that the world which
Bacon has presented in New Atlantis must be interpreted with much employment of wisdom and
clarity (Serjeantson, 2018). He says that the world Bacon has tried to present through his writing
represents the modern world of science but should be related to the earlier understanding of
knowledge. He argues that Bacon has tried to direct messages towards his contemporaries. He
tried to condescend them for their ignorance about natural sciences. He also made attempts to
find remedy to the situation of his time which, to him, was disturbing and full of complacency.
He says that the preoccupations which are came across in New Atlantis are all derived from the
traditional knowledge of nature such as alchemy, medicine, dietetics and so on. Whereas, it must
be acknowledged that New Atlantis is a powerful work of literature and science. Serjeantson is
of the opinion that ‘‘If we concentrate on Bacon in his capacity as a prophet of modern science,
we may miss the importance of the medieval and Renaissance traditions of natural knowledge
that suffuse his works.” He also adds that the advancement of society which have been depicted
in New Atlantis is only rooted in future because of the virtue of being old. It intends to look at
future with the historical knowledge and not entirely future oriented. In New Atlantis, Bacon
looks back at the traditions and knowledge of the sixteenth century. It mentions practices and
occurrences of natural magic which later gets replaced by research which are aimed towards
controlling nature. Serjeantson links Bacon’s work with Natural Knowledge of his time which
was also undergoing development. Bacon, according to him, has presented a world which

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preceded before him and continued subsequently. He only tries to link to the past by also
fantasizing the developments which could have changed the world for better, as he imagined.
Bacon has precisely advocated the discoveries of science which took place before him and how
natural sciences opened the eyes of the world towards new things.
The reviews made by Lucas and Serjeantson, both acknowledge New Atlantis as the
legitimate work of science fiction which has paved way to the Organized nature of Science.
Nonetheless, it is also to be deliberated as to how Bacon predicted the course of future in his
work which was quite alarming. Bacon had advocated about the need to invest in scientific
researches which are to be funded by the state. He believed that it would only take mankind
forward. Modern science can only take the world ahead if there is vision and purpose behind it.
Whereas, it is needless to say, science and technology also involve dangers when they are not
well-ordered. Scientists and researchers also should be meticulous about their discoveries
otherwise they can lead to detrimental outcomes.
In my opinion, Bacon had predicted future for the advancement of scientific discoveries.
Reality, alarmingly was already sketched out for the world by Bacon in his works, which came to
be true as time passed and science made progresses. Modern science bears significance and
resemblance of the world Bacon had created in his novel, New Atlantis. It cannot be ignored,
even to this day, what Bacon has contributed to English Literature and modern science fiction

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with his work, New Atlantis. His work is even more brilliant as he substantiated the futuristic
worldview which he presented in his work with scientific evidences of Natural Sciences and
Magic. Peter Lucas has critiqued the work of Francis Bacon in a more precise manner which has
acknowledged the text as the paramount work and foundation for the Modern Science Fiction
genre. This idea can be related to the text and be interpreted in a more literary manner as it
broadens the prospects of science fiction and literature. New Atlantis can be treated as the ideal
copy of reference for fictional works which aim at projecting the scientific and technological
prospects which the future holds. The work of fiction also can be interpreted in many ways. It
can be said that scientific discoveries, if not controlled and bereft of vision to take it ahead to be
substantiated can lead to detrimental effects which can take shape of Dystopia rather than being
an ideal picture of the world.
It can thus, be concluded by saying that New Atlantis has painted the picture of Utopian
world. Bacon has perfected the literary work with his genius and vision by imagining the future
of world and the capabilities of knowledge and discoveries associated with human kind. Lucas
and Serjeantson both regard New Atlantis as the work which is directed the works of modern
science fiction in a time when science was still known as natural philosophy.

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Bibliography
Bacon, F. (2010). Bacon's Advancement of Learning and the New Atlantis. Lulu. com.
Bacon, F. (2016). New Atlantis and the great instauration. John Wiley & Sons.
Lucas, P. (2018). Bacon’s New Atlantis and the Fictional Origins of Organised Science. Open
Cultural Studies, 2(1), 114-121. https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/culture.2018.2.issue-
1/culture-2018-0011/culture-2018-0011.xml
Serjeantson, R. (2018). Natural knowledge in the New Atlantis. In Francis Bacon’s New
Atlantis. Manchester University Press.
https://www.manchesteropenhive.com/view/9781526137388/9781526137388.00010.xml