Perception
Bacon notices that perception seems to lend itself to a certain irony in terms of philosophy and truth. For instance, perception is immediate, and the assumptions drawn from that immediate experience are often reinforced by shared beliefs in one's community. The perception of reality does not actually criticize itself. It does not lend itself to self-explanation because one does not perceive the methods through which they perceive; rather, they just perceive, and then believe in the reality they experience. Bacon says the first hurdle in approaching true scientific knowledge will be disregarding what perception says because more can be known through testing than can be known through direct observation.
Communities
Most of Bacon's work is dedicated to exploring the philosophy of the human mind. As such, he is quite focused on the individual and how one perceives the world around them. However, readers may easily overlook the fact that a central tenet of Bacon's ideal universe is rooted in community rather than in individual prosperity. For instance, a good painter can teach their skills to a child painter who can then surpass the original painter in their abilities later in life. Bacon sees shared knowledge and cooperative testing as crucial to the advancement of civilization.
Poetry and Speech
Bacon argues that there are three overarching types of knowledge in the human mind: history, poesy (poetry), and philosophy. Of these forms, Bacon is most critical of poetry, as he argues that it is too focused on satisfying the human imagination rather than focusing on what is real and tangible in the world. Ironically, however, Bacon is well-known for his own rhetorical prowess; some critics even argue that it was Bacon who wrote some or all of the plays attributed to playwright William Shakespeare.
Belief
Bacon is critical of the concept of belief, as he argues that one's beliefs often preclude them from drawing conclusions about facts that might counter that belief system. Ironically, of course, Bacon is also a devout Christian who argues that Christianity is essential to scientific inquiry. Bacon, however, sees Christianity, the existence of God, and a scientific method consecrated by God as facts rather than beliefs, allowing him to criticize those "blinded" by belief at the same time he champions Christian worship.
