Benjamin Franklin's experiment in pursuit of achieving moral perfection reflects Enlightenment ideals, particularly the application of reason. In this section of his autobiography, Franklin reasons that "I knew, or thought I knew, what was right and wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the one and avoid the other."
Did Franklin ever achieve his goal of moral perfection?
Franklin never accomplished his goal of moral perfection, but then again, I don’t think there is ever an end-point in self-development. You never stop learning and one should therefore always focus on making the best out of the journey itself.
Why did Benjamin Franklin write the 13 virtues?
Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin was only 20 years old when he in 1726 wrote down a list of 13 virtues in order to help him achieve moral perfection throughout his lifetime. Franklin never accomplished his goal of moral perfection, but then again, I don’t think there is ever an end-point in self-development.
How would you describe Franklin's view of Man?
Franklin's view of man lacks the complexity one acknowledges in a post-Freudian world. But if he appears at points in-tolerably optimistic about human nature, he also acknowledges his failure to attain perfection with a modern, ironic sense of humor that still makes him likable.
How long did it take Franklin to acquire each new virtue?
13. HUMILITY: Imitate Jesus and Socrates. Franklin allotted himself one week to acquire each new virtue. And in order to see his progress, he made a record book and gave himself a black mark each time he failed to exhibit a virtue on which he was working.
What was Benjamin Franklin's plan for moral perfection?
Plan for Attaining Moral Perfection. T was about this time I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I wish'd to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into.
What does Franklin's plan for moral perfection reveal about him?
What does Franklin's plan for moral perfection reveal about him? It reveals that he is not perfect.
What was Franklin's reasoning for wanting moral perfection?
Having seen that perfection would never be his, he decided that such a condition "might be a Kind of Foppery in Morals, which if it were known would make me ridiculous; that a perfect Character might be attended with the Inconvenience of being envied and hated; and that a benevolent Man should allow a few Faults in ...
What does Franklin's concern with moral virtue reveal about the period in which he lived?
What does Franklin's concern with moral virtue reveal about the time period in which he lived in? People were thinking about what kind of a country they wanted to create and there is no way to have a successful nation without successful and educated people.
What is meant by moral perfection?
Moral perfection is morally ultimate. Nothing less than the best is perfect. The agent of a morally imperfect act is not a morally perfect agent. An act is morally imperfect if its agent thereby neglects one that is morally better.
What thirteen virtues does Franklin feel are necessary for moral perfection?
Continually obsessed with self-betterment, Franklin consents "to the bold and arduous project of arriving at Moral Perfection." He creates a list of 13 virtues that are, in order: Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Chastity, and ...
What was the purpose of Ben Franklin's 13 virtues?
In his autobiography, Franklin recommends that all his readers take the 13 Virtues challenge if they seek moral perfection. He defines each virtue, explains how they build upon one another and outlines how to chart one's progress.
What goals did Benjamin Franklin achieve?
In 1726, at the age of 20, Ben Franklin set his loftiest goal: the attainment of moral perfection....Franklin's Quest for Moral Perfection“TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.”“SILENCE. ... “ORDER. ... “RESOLUTION. ... “FRUGALITY. ... “INDUSTRY. ... “SINCERITY. ... “JUSTICE.More items...•
What is the central idea of Franklin's Autobiography?
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is concerned with memory. The whole idea of writing your life story is sharing that memory with readers. Franklin's autobiography is a work of memory, a "recollection." He shows us how his past made him into the author writing in his present.
What is Franklin's position on faith and religious belief how do his moral ethical virtues compare to those of the Puritans?
Unlike the Puritans who sought moral perfection in order to please their God and achieve a place in heaven, Franklin believed one must abide by a rule of ethics as a human being, not just as a Christian follower. He believed one should live by virtue in order to become a better person and a better citizen.
Why did Benjamin Franklin seek to achieve the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection?
Ben Franklin decided that he was going to pursue “the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection.” While he thought he knew right from wrong, and the virtues that would lead to a good life, he realized he would really have to train himself to simultaneously and continuously follow his proposed virtues.
How does the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin affect or influence the society?
Part Two of the Autobiography, complete with its list of virtues and ways in which one can achieve them, has influenced millions of readers over the last two centuries. It also helped spawn the genre of the mainstream self-help book. Also, the Autobiography tells us today what life was like in 18th century America.
How did Franklin react to the suggestion that he was considered proud?
How did Franklin react to the suggestion that he was considered proud? He added another virtue to his list, carefully defining it.
Why did Benjamin Franklin seek to achieve the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection?
Ben Franklin decided that he was going to pursue “the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection.” While he thought he knew right from wrong, and the virtues that would lead to a good life, he realized he would really have to train himself to simultaneously and continuously follow his proposed virtues.
What was the purpose of Benjamin Franklin's 13 virtues?
In his autobiography, Franklin recommends that all his readers take the 13 Virtues challenge if they seek moral perfection. He defines each virtue, explains how they build upon one another and outlines how to chart one's progress.
What is the central idea of Franklin's autobiography?
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is concerned with memory. The whole idea of writing your life story is sharing that memory with readers. Franklin's autobiography is a work of memory, a "recollection." He shows us how his past made him into the author writing in his present.
What does "tries to be morally perfect" mean?
tries to be morally perfect; wants to do it step by step; virtues
What did the perfection of one lead to?
trying to be orderly; the perfection of one led to the perfection of the rest; he wanted to accomplish something each day with asking himself questions
How far away is Franklin from Burlington?
After spending a night with an itinerant doctor, Dr. Brown, Franklin finally arrives to Burlington, only 18 miles from his destination. Why can't he continue his travel at this point?
Where did Franklin stop when he got off the boat?
Once Franklin got off the boat, he stopped at an inn where he felt he was suspected to be a runaway servant. Why do you think there may have been such suspicion?
Does Franklin know the difference between money and bread?
Franklin doesn't realize that different towns may not have the same types of food and he openly admits that he doesn't know the difference of money , especially the cheapness of bread or the names.
What did Franklin think of the project of moral perfection?
"It was about this time I conceiv'd the bold and arduous Project of arriving at moral Perfection," Franklin writes. "As I knew, or thought I knew, what was right and wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the one and avoid the other." He soon found the task "of more Difficulty than I had imagined," but decided that one's bad deeds resulted from bad habits, and that with concentration one could substitute good habits for the bad ones. He decided that 13 virtues were either necessary or desirable, arranged them so that the first acquired could help in assimilating the second, and so on:
Why did Franklin's plan to attain perfection astonish the modern reader?
Franklin's plan to attain perfection astonishes the modern reader for many reasons, among them the assumptions on which such a plan was based. For our author assumed not only that man is perfectible but also that the perfecting can be completed fairly quickly.
What is Franklin's view of man?
Franklin's view of man lacks the complexity one acknowledges in a post-Freudian world. But if he appears at points in-tolerably optimistic about human nature, he also acknowledges his failure to attain perfection with a modern, ironic sense of humor that still makes him likable. Having seen that perfection would never be his, he decided that such a condition "might be a Kind of Foppery in Morals, which if it were known would make me ridiculous; that a perfect Character might be attended with the Inconvenience of being envied and hated; and that a benevolent Man should allow a few Faults in himself, to keep his Friends in Countenance."
How did Benjamin Franklin achieve his virtues?
Franklin allotted himself one week to acquire each new virtue. And in order to see his progress, he made a record book and gave himself a black mark each time he failed to exhibit a virtue on which he was working. He also made a schedule for his day, allotting seven hours for sleep, eight for work, and nine for planning, reviewing, reflecting, eating, relaxing, and reading. Though he found that he was "fuller of Faults than [he] had imagined," Franklin also found that he "had the Satisfaction of seeing them diminish." He was never good at order or humility; the latter, in fact, had been added somewhat later than the others because a friend convinced him that he was justly suspected of being proud. He later learned that "there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue" as pride; he even wondered, had he conquered pride, whether he wouldn't have been proud of his humility. But he carefully simulated the appearance of humility, if not the reality of it. And though he never attained perfection, he still felt better and happier from having attempted it. He felt, in fact, that all his past blessings of health, prosperity, reputation and popularity were due to these efforts.
What are Franklin's explanatory maxims?
His explanatory maxims are models of well-turned phrases: pointed, concise, clear, and memorable as balanced aphorisms. If the list suggests why Franklin is no longer consulted as a philosopher, it also illustrates why he is still admired as a prose stylist.
How many hours did Benjamin Franklin sleep?
He also made a schedule for his day, allotting seven hours for sleep, eight for work, and nine for planning, reviewing, reflecting, eating, relaxing, and reading. Though he found that he was "fuller of Faults than [he] had imagined," Franklin also found that he "had the Satisfaction of seeing them diminish.".
Why did Benjamin Franklin believe virtue was worth pursuing?
Franklin always assumed that virtue was worth pursuing because of its practical benefits, not because of some abstract worth. Order, resolution, and industry, for example, he felt would lead to affluence and independence. And once these last two qualities were achieved, sincerity and justice would be easier to afford.
How did Benjamin Franklin keep track of his virtues?
To keep track of his performance across the thirteen virtues, Franklin created a different type of journal, which is very similar to today’s habit-tracking journals. Because he understood the value of focus, Franklin would cycle through the virtues and select one to be the main emphasis each week. From Monday through Sunday, he would make a mark in his journal whenever he wasn’t able to uphold the respective virtue. At the end of the week, he would reflect upon it, trying to understand why it had happened and what he could do in future weeks to prevent it from happening.
What is the importance of organization in Franklin's life?
Good organization leads to increased effectiveness and efficiency , and Franklin was all about organizing his life and optimizing his productivity. He knew early on that to accomplish the many things he was passionate about, he needed to maintain order in all aspects of his life.
Why did Franklin create a different type of journal?
To keep track of his performance across the thirteen virtues, Franklin created a different type of journal, which is very similar to today’s habit-tracking journals. Because he understood the value of focus, Franklin would cycle through the virtues and select one to be the main emphasis each week.
How many virtues did Benjamin Franklin have?
So, in 1726, when he was only twenty years old, Franklin created a system that he believed would help him develop his character. Here are Benjamin Franklin’s thirteen virtues as he described them in his Autobiography:
Why did Benjamin Franklin add the virtue of silence?
So, he added the virtue of silence so that he could practice listening. This is one of the points that I, personally, struggle with. 3.
Why did Benjamin Franklin keep his finances in check?
Keeping this virtue high on his list, Franklin managed to always keep his finances in check and earn enough so that he wouldn’t have to worry about money throughout his lifetime.
What were Benjamin Franklin's thirteen virtues?
Here are Benjamin Franklin’s thirteen virtues as he described them in his Autobiography: Temperance: Eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation.