CFP: Special Issue on Francis Bacon and His Legacies

Call for Papers: Special Issue on Francis Bacon and His Legacies

The Journal of Early Modern Studies

Guest Editors: Dana Jalobeanu and Silvia Manzo

The Journal of Early Modern Studies (JEMS) invites submissions for a special issue marking the 400th anniversary of Francis Bacon’s death in 2026. This volume will explore the diverse reception of Bacon’s philosophical work across different traditions and geographical regions.

Bacon’s legacy is a complex tapestry of intersecting, clashing, and sometimes unrelated interpretations. He has been lauded as the "father of experimental philosophy" and empiricism, and simultaneously labeled an inductivist, atheist, or a devoted Christian, eclectic, utilitarian, positivist, and materialist. While he was a foundational figure in the seventeenth century Europe and reached the height of his influence during the Enlightenment, his philosophical reputation began to wane in the mid-nineteenth century. This decline helps explain why Bacon has often been excluded from the central canon of Western early modern philosophy over the past two centuries.

This special issue aims to re-evaluate Bacon's enduring relevance. By tracing the impact of his work on readers in varied intellectual, philosophical, and political contexts, we can uncover the untapped potential of his ideas.

We welcome papers that explore the impact of Bacon's work on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:

• Metaphysics
• Natural Philosophy
• Natural History
• Experimentation and Method
• Politics of Science
• Utopianism
• Colonialism

Submission deadline: May 1, 2026

For detailed submission guidelines, please visit:

https://www.pdcnet.org/jems/Submission-Guidelines

For inquiries, please contact:

Dana Jalobeanu ([email protected]);

Silvia Manzo ([email protected])