Episode #3 Bacon, Science, Freemasonry and Shakespeare

The Rosicrucian Enlightenment by Frances A. Yates explores the influence of the Rosicrucian movement on European intellectual life during the early seventeenth century. It delves into how this esoteric tradition, combining elements of Hermeticism, alchemy, and Cabala, contributed to the development of modern science and medicine. The book examines the historical context and impact of the Rosicrucian manifestos, tracing their influence on figures like Isaac Newton and Francis Bacon.

Written around 1623 and published posthumously in 1627, 'New Atlantis' is a philosophical and utopian work by Francis Bacon. The story follows a group of sailors who discover the mysterious island of Bensalem, where they encounter a society governed by a democratically elected parliament and guided by the principles of Salomon’s House, an institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and the study of nature. The novel emphasizes the integration of science and ethics in governance and highlights Bacon’s vision of a society where knowledge and reason are central to human progress and happiness.