In Benjamin Franklin’s The Autobiography, he ornately and distinctly portrays each of the characteristics of the enlightenment. First characteristic of enlightenment Franklin presents is perfectibility and progress, a belief that one has the ability to improve and change. Whilst, Franklin was working on his list of virtues to improve himself to accomplish his goals, he came to add the thirteenth virtue as one of his Quaker acquaintance confessed about him, “But a Quaker friend having kindly inform’d me that I was generally thought proud; that my Pride show’d itself frequently in Conversation” (Franklin 530). After being informed, Franklin immediately convinced himself to improve his pride by adding one more virtue in his list “Humility”. In …show more content…
Later, Franklin admires his initiative to change and improve in his language and pride was fruitful as he states “I soon found the advantage of this change in my manners. The conversations I engaged in went on more pleasantly” (Franklin 530). The second characteristic of enlightenment Franklin illustrates is the autonomy of reason, where one has the ability to think logically and reasonably and not rely upon someone to think for them. Franklin grew up to become a virtuous and an ingenious individual; from young age he had great work ethics, passion toward books and printing and always ambition to become a better person. During his whole successful career Franklin worked independently towards his individual goals. Mostly, Franklin learned to independently work and think since his early age and working in the printing shop. Franklin mentions, “I bought it, read it over and over... possible to imitate it”, “I took some of the papers, and making short… in any suitable words that should come to hand” Franklin demonstrated many of his action that required no opinions of others. He solely worked independently throughout his career, which gained him the ultimate respect and
Gordon S. Wood delves into Benjamin Franklin’s philosophical, political, and personal legacies in the biography, The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin. The book travels through Franklin’s experiments, his travels in Europe, and his role in the American revolution. The book begins when Franklin retires from business and becomes a gentleman. It was when he became a gentleman, it allowed him to analyze the world around him. “Indeed, he could not drink a cup of tea without wondering why the tea leaves at the bottom gathered in way rather than another,” a quote from Edmund S. Morgan’s book, Benjamin Franklin. Franklin spent a great deal of time in Britain before returning to America. When he returned, he threw himself into the American revolution, which sent him to France. After he accomplished his duties in France, he returned back home to America where he ran for public office.
Franklins in his Autobiography, composes the idea of a “self-made-man” by depicting his experiences of his hard work ethic to go from poor to rich. Throughout his writing he explains how he made himself successful. He took chances and was proactive.
While writing a letter to his son, he begins to explain his reasoning for writing in a somewhat formal fashion, stating what he felt was the purpose of his life. His light hearted nature would show through when he lightly mocked previous statements he had written. He shows a lot of pride in all of the accomplishments he had made in his life. He refers to his past mistakes as ‘errata’ which is a term used for correcting printing mistakes. This suggests that he simply viewed his errors in life as easily replaced with the greater things he has gone on to do. He stressed the importance of hard work and that it would certainly lead to greatness and wealth. In part two, a seemingly older Franklin focuses his tone away from entertaining himself and his son. He goes on to explain a series of models and virtues that would lead to a happy and fulfilling life. Lastly in part three, a slightly older Franklin encourages people so stop thinking in self-interest and to join together to encourage social
Franklin believed that through self restraint and development of ones temperament anyone can achieve a successful life. The process Franklin describes involves cataloging all of the bad habits you do during a period of time and gradually working on reducing each of them to the point where they are almost non existent. However he does note that it is impossible to achieve
Franklin was remembered for stating "the longer I live, the more convincing proof I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men." Franklin 's ideas that contributed to the Enlightenment is found in his Autobiography. His idea of a perfect person has 13 virtues and claims that a practical and scientific man is based on combining their values and economic values. Franklin preferred voluntarily societies over government control, all his thoughts can lead back to free opinion. In his, Almanac is reflected on his scientific interests and was popular within the
Benjamin Franklin, through hard work and perseverance, transformed himself into a philosopher, diplomat, inventor, writer, and scientist. (SOURCE) Franklin’s contributions and ideas significantly encouraged major progress in the development our country and improvements that continue to affect society. He showed that with a strong desire and honest and hard work anything is possible. Unlike most politicians, he was a common person. He is also a hero in that he symbolizes hope and possibilities for many Americans. However, Franklin was not a perfect human being, and for that reason, some believe that his face should not grace the $100 bill. His legacy is undeniably a major part in our history and as one of the key “founding fathers” to our society; the fact reminds Benjamin Franklin is distinct figure in our history. I will present my argument in favor of keeping Franklin on the bill.
...is mistakes and let go of any self-resentment, in the eyes of his son. Though these arguments appear as rebellious against Benjamin Franklin’s hubris or self-endowment, it can also be said that these elements helped fuel his ambition and lead to great discoveries. If Franklin’s infatuation with self-betterment was arguably responsible the creation of so many necessities and components of society today, then no criticism can be dished out – Franklin deals with enough inner critique as it is.
The virtues presented in the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin are similar to those discussed in President John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage. Therefore, we can see the timeless importance that we as Americans place on virtuous leaders, which we would not have been as aware of before reading this essay. From the age of Benjamin Franklin to the turbulent era of John F. Kennedy, regardless of the amount of time passed Americans long for leaders that embody the virtues mentioned in Franklin’s famed thirteen moral virtues. Perhaps what makes these two men a part of an elite group of great Americans is their dominating presence in history. Their legacies are remembered as patriots with an unquestionable love of America and what is right; the type of men who would put aside personal consequences if the outcome led to the greater good for the people. In Profiles of Courage, President Kennedy defines it best; "A man does what he must - in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures - and that is the basis of all human morality" (Kennedy 266). Virtu...
One of his important virtues was humility. It was simply stated: “Imitate Jesus and Socrates.” From the beginning of Franklin’s life, when he went to grammar school he was always interested in learning. His father took him from grammar school and his next move was to be an apprentice to his brother as a printer. With undying love for knowledge he continued to learn how to read and write well. “From a child I was fond of reading, and all the little money that came into my hands was ever laid out in books” (Franklin 13). He continually got books from other print shops and stores to read on the side of working. One of the writings that touched him the most was the Socratic dialogue that he read in the back of a grammar book that he borrowed. He continued his research on Socrates, and therefore the Socratic method became a driving force in his beliefs. That is why he states that we should ‘Imitate Jesus and Socrates’. Their views must have some basis in common in order for him to look up to them that much.
All of Benjamin Franklin’s actions make us believe that these virtues are the way he intends to live his life for the rest of his life. Benjamin Franklin elf examined himself constantly and criticized his actions to change the ways he was carrying out certain stuff. Franklin divided up his day making sure that every hour and very minute was spent doing something productive- 6th virtue-. He explains why he uses such extensive meaning to describe the virtues that some find “outrageous”. For example, he has a particularly hard time with achieving the 13th virtue-Humility- and that is why he defined it as “Imitate Jesus and Socrates”. These two men are great men that some find impossible to imitate. This caused people to think of these virtues as a joke. However, imitating these two men is possible, in one’s own way. One can imitate their actions and incorporate their qualities into ones’ own character. The imitation of these two men would certainly solve Benjamin Franklin’s of being thought of as proud and would also solve other problems that Benjamin Franklin has with
Franklin believed that every conversation should be beneficial, and that people should be proud of what they do. Equiano’s discipline is what also made him successful. If you are discipline, you will go far in life; if you work hard, you will succeed.
Benjamin Franklin and Christopher McCandless both demonstrate that determination often leads to greater skills and intelligence. Throughout Ben Franklin’s life he gains a lot of intelligence through his determination to do new things and his strive to do better. Chris McCandless gains a lot of life skills through his determination to go and live in the wild. Determination played a key role in their intelligence and success.
Benjamin Franklin has been without a doubt one of the most relevant individuals in US history. His autobiography gives us a brief but detailed summary of what his life was like and how society worked in the eighteen century. This autobiography gives us many details of how the colonies where and offers and an overall image of the development of British North America which later turned into the United States. Due to the fact that this book was originally written for Franklin's son, the book concentrates in personal information and has very little information about other topics. However, there are some topics that can be extracted from his writings; one of them is gender. Even though, Franklin never talks openly about gender, we can observe how in his writing these roles are clearly assigned. In this paper, we will analyze how Benjamin's Franklin autobiography showcases the importance of gender in the early eighteenth century. Gender can be analyzed in Franklins book by looking at different topics. This given to men and women by society can be seen in the workspace, in the education of each individual, and in the family and family structure.
Benjamin Franklin is one of the most influential and famous figures of all time. Ben Franklin if often referred to as the "self-made man," and his philosophies and principles in the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, edited by Louis P. Masur, has served as a self-help book for millions around the world. Franklin's Autobiography is a prime example of the American dream, a rag to riches story that has inspired many people to think of themselves and the community in a different light. Franklin's moral and social philosophies are packed deeply into his Autobiography. Franklin believed that improving ones self was the key to success. Self-improvement, self-education, and self-discipline are the main factors of a self-made man. Improving yourself will ultimately improve the society as a whole. Franklin speaks of principality and inclination. His idea was to produce the principle man with the awareness of man's natural inclination. Throughout the text Franklin provides examples from his own life that contradicts his moral and social philosophies. These contradictions are mostly caused by natural inclinations. Franklin uses these contradictions to educate people to be aware of their natural inclinations and to try and overcome them. Franklin's realizes that improving oneself is a road with many imperfections. Not even the "self-made man" was completely perfect.
Benjamin Franklin Virtues Reflection Following Benjamin Franklin’s list of virtues gives us two things to ponder about. We would first and foremost discover how lacking we are compared what a virtuous life entails. We will find out which areas we need to work on and yet still may fall short of our expectations; that was what happened to Benjamin Franklin himself. But on the positive side, our attempts at living out such moral, worthy and meaningful qualities can lead to a sense of fulfillment. In this arguably more materialistic era, perhaps only a record of our improvement in achieving such attributes can compete with our implicit yet constant superficial rivalry with one another.