Scientia potentia est

The phrase scientia potentia est (sometimes written as scientia est potentia) is a Latin maxim often claimed to mean "knowledge is power". It is commonly attributed to Sir Francis Bacon; however, there is no known occurrence of this precise phrase in Bacon's English or Latin writings. However, this phrase does appear in Thomas Hobbes' 1658 work De Homine, cap. x  : "Scientia potentia est, sed parva; quia scientia egregia rara est, nec proinde apparens nisi paucissimis, et in paucis rebus. Scientiae enim ea natura est, ut esse intelligi non possit, nisi ab illis qui sunt scientia praediti.

This was translated as "The sciences, are small power; because not eminent; and therefore, not acknowledged in any man; nor are at all, but in a few, and in them, but of a few things. For science is of that nature, as none can understand it to be, but such as in a good measure have attained it" in Thomas Hobbes, The English Works, vol. III (Leviathan) [1651] in The English Works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury; Now First Collected and Edited by Sir William Molesworth, Bart., (London: Bohn, 1839–45). 11 vols. Vol. 3. p 47. This passage from Chapter X ("Of power, worth, dignity, honour, and worthiness" occurs in a list of various attributes of man which constitute power; in this list, "sciences" or "the sciences" are given a minor position.

It is asserted that Hobbes also wrote "The end of knowledge is power ... the scope of all speculation is the performing of some action or thing to be done. " in De Corp, EW, i, I, 1, 6, 7. According to http://www.todayinsci.com/H/Hobbes_Thomas/HobbesThomas-Quotations.htm, "In Jean Hampton, Hobbes and the social contract tradition (1988), 46. Hampton indicates that this quote is 'after Bacon' and in a footnote, that 'Hobbes was Bacon's secretary as a young man and had philosophical discussions with him (Aubrey 1898, 331).

The closest expression in Bacon's works is, perhaps, the expression "scientia potestas est", found in his Meditationes Sacrae (1597), which is perhaps better translated as "knowledge is His power", because the context of the sentence refers to the qualities of God and is imbedded in a discussion of heresies that deny the power of God: Dei quam potestatis; vel putius ejus partis potestatis Dei, (nam et ipsa scientia potestas est) qua scit, quam ejus qua raovet et agit; ut praesciat quaedam otoise, quae non praedestinet et praordinet.

The English translation of this section includes the following:

"This canon is the mother of all canons against heresies. The cause of error is twofold : ignorance of the will of God, and ignorance or superficial consideration of the power of God. The will of God is more revealed through the Scriptures… his power more through his creatures… So is the plenitude of God’s power to be asserted, as not to involve any imputation upon his will. So is the goodness of his will to be asserted, as not to imply any derogation of his power. … Atheism and Theomachy rebels and mutinies against the power of God ; not trusting to his word, which reveals his will, because it does not believe in his power,to whom all things are possible… But of the heresies which deny the power of God, there are, besides simple atheism, three degrees…

The third degree is of those who limit and restrain the former opinion to human actions only, which partake of sin: which actions they suppose to depend substantively and without any chain of causes upon the inward will and choice of man; and who give a wider range to the knowledge of God than to his power; or rather to that part of God’s power (for knowledge itself is power) whereby he knows, than to that whereby he works and acts ; suffering him to fore know some things as an unconcerned looker on, which he does not predestine and preordain : a notion not unlike the figment which Epicurus introduced into the philosophy of Democritus, to get rid of fate and make room for fortune; namely the sidelong motion of the Atom; which has ever by the wiser sort been accounted a very empty device. " (p. 94-95; works of Bacon, Vol XIV, Boston; Brown and Taggard, 1861)

Interpretation of the notion of power meant by Bacon must therefore take into account his distinction between the power of knowing and the power of working and acting, the opposite of what is assumed when the maxim is taken out of context. Indeed, the quotation has become a cliche.

In another place, Bacon wrote, "Human knowledge and human power meet in one; for where the cause is not known the effect cannot be produced. Nature to be commanded must be obeyed; and that which in contemplation is as the cause is in operation as the rule."

Origins and parallels

A proverb in practically the same wording is first found in Hebrew, in the Biblical Book of Proverbs (24:5): גֶּבֶר-חָכָם בַּעוֹז; וְאִישׁ-דַּעַת, מְאַמֶּץ-כֹּחַ, translated (in the KJV) as A wise man is strong, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

This early 1st millennium BC sentence became considerably widespread, as witnessed by a reference (around 1000 AD) in Ferdowsi's Shahname: توانا بود هر که دانا بود "One who has wisdom is powerful" - and by Bacon's wording (although whether he was deliberately quoting Proverbs cannot be determined - cf. Vulgate vir sapiens et fortis est et vir doctus robustus et validus).

Interpretation

The phrase implies that with knowledge or education one's potential or abilities in life will certainly increase. Having and sharing knowledge is widely recognised as the basis for improving one's reputation and influence, thus power. This phrase may also be used as a justification for a reluctance to share information when a person believes that withholding knowledge can deliver to that person some form of advantage.

See also

• Intelligence (information gathering)
• Information warfare
• Rationality and power

Further reading

• Flyvbjerg, Bent. Rationality and Power: Democracy in Practice. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998. [1]
• Flyvbjerg, Bent. "What is Rationality? What is Power?" [2]
• Haas, Ernst B. When Knowledge is Power: Three Models of Change in International Organizations. University of California, 1990. ISBN 0-520-06646-4.
• Higdon, Lee. "Knowledge is power." University Business, September 2005.
  • Higdon argues that because the U.S. economy is a knowledge economy the decline in enrollment of non-U.S. students in U.S. universities "has serious long-term implications for the United States." [3]
• "Knowledge is power (But only if you know how to acquire it)." The Economist, May 8, 2003. [4]
  • A report on corporate knowledge management.
• Peterson, Ryan. "Michel Foucault: Power/Knowledge." Colorado State University Resource Centre for Communications Studies. [5]
  • An exploration of what Peterson terms Foucault's "new model of the relations of power and knowledge" that contradicts Bacon.
• Powers, Rod. "Knowledge is power in the military." U.S. Military: The Orderly Room. [6]
  • An anecdotal argument that in the military, a person with the most rank is not always the one in charge of a given situation, but that the person with the "real power" is the person who knows the regulations.
• Trump, Donald J. "Use Knowledge to Your Advantage." Trump University. [7]
  • Trump argues that knowledge is one of the main secrets to success.