Solomon's_House

Salomon's House

Salomon's House

Fictional institution

Salomon's House (or Solomon's House) is a fictional institution in Sir Francis Bacon's utopian work New Atlantis, published in English in 1777[citation needed], years after Bacon's death. In this work, Bacon portrays a vision of the future of human discovery and knowledge. Salomon's House is credited with being the standard upon which 17th century scientific academies, including the French Académie des Sciences and the English Royal Society, are based.[1]

Historical Context

It is speculated that Bacon was inspired by contemporary men of science Cornelis Drebbel and Salomon de Caus, as well as author and courtier Sir Thomas Chaloner.[1]

According to the "Note on the Texts" in the revised critical edition,[2] the original 1627 edition published by Bacon's literary executor William Rawley has "King Solamona" and "Salomon's House", while the 1658 and 1670 editions (long after Bacon's death) have "King Salomona" and "Solomon's House." The idea inspired followers like Samuel Hartlib and Robert Boyle and led to the Royal Society of 1660.

Description of Salomon's House

A Father of Salomon's House explains the founding of Salomon's House by King Solamona:

"Ye shall understand (my dear friends) that amongst the excellent acts of that king, one above all hath the pre-eminence. It was the erection and institution of an Order or Society, which we call "Salomon's House"; the noblest foundation (as we think) that ever was upon the earth; and the lanthorn of this kingdom. It is dedicated to the study of the Works and Creatures of God. Some think it beareth the founder's name a little corrupted, as if it should be Solamona's House. But the records write it as it is spoken. So as I take it to be denominate of the King of the Hebrews, which is famous with you, and no stranger to us."[3]

Exposition on Salomon's House is divided into four major sections: purpose, structures and equipment, roles, and ordinances and rites.[3]

Purpose

The purpose of Salomon's House, or "end of [the] foundation,"[3] is as stated: "The End of our Foundation is the knowledge of Causes, and secret motions of things; and the enlarging of the bounds of Human Empire, to the effecting of all things possible."[3]

Structures and Equipment

Salomon's House in Bensalem includes the following structures and materials in order as presented in the text:[3][4]

More information Materials, Purpose ...

Roles

Roles of members of Salomon's House are listed in order of appearance in the text below:[3][4]

More information Title of Role, Number of Members ...

There are two notable imbalances in the information given. Firstly, the imbalance between the amount of equipment and the amount of manpower to operate it. Secondly, the ratio of roles collecting data to roles producing data.[5]

Ordinances and Rites

The ordinances and rites followed by the members of Salomon's House are described below:

Galleries

First Gallery includes the patterns and samples of notable inventions.[3]

Second Gallery holds statues of notable inventors. Notably, the only inventor mentioned by name is Columbus, who is credited with discovering the West Indies. The other inventors are listed as the inventor of their invention. Statues in this gallery are made of various materials including but not limited to brass, marble, cedar, silver, and gold.[3]

Hymns and Services

Daily hymns and services include praising God as well as requesting His aid.[3]

Circuits and Visits

Members of the Salomon's house travel throughout the kingdom and perform three major actions. Firstly, they publish new inventions. Secondly, they divine natural disasters. Thirdly, they counsel the populace.[3]

References

  1. [1]
    Colie, Rosalie L. (1955). "Cornelis Drebbel and Salomon de Caus: Two Jacobean Models for Salomon's House". Huntington Library Quarterly. 18 (3): 245–260. doi:10.2307/3816455. ISSN 0018-7895. JSTOR 3816455.
  2. [2]
    Weinberger, Jerry (2018-07-30), "On the miracles in Bacon's New Atlantis", Francis Bacon’s New Atlantis, Manchester University Press, doi:10.7765/9781526137388.00011, ISBN 978-1-5261-3738-8, S2CID 186865723, retrieved 2021-05-08
  3. [3]
    More, Thomas, Saint (2008). Utopia. Susan Bruce, Francis Bacon, Henry Neville (Reissued 2008 ed.). Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-953799-0. OCLC 244652520.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. [4]
    Suter, Rufus (1948). "Salomon's House: A Study of Francis Bacon". The Scientific Monthly. 66 (1): 62–66. Bibcode:1948SciMo..66...62S. ISSN 0096-3771. JSTOR 19174.
  5. [5]
    Kendrick, Christopher (2003). "The Imperial Laboratory: Discovering Forms in The New Atlantis". ELH. 70 (4): 1021–1042. doi:10.1353/elh.2004.0007. ISSN 1080-6547. S2CID 144883395.
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