Franklin and the Puritans There were many different aspects to Benjamin Franklin's character and while many Americans like to concentrate on his more lurid, or worldly endeavors, his ethical beliefs were a very important part of his life. In fact, Franklin listed thirteen virtues in his autobiography which he found to be instrumental in becoming a moral and honorable person. It is interesting to note that Franklin's list of virtues bear remarkable similarities to Puritan beliefs and virtues. But while there are similarities between Benjamin Franklin's self-professed list of virtues and those of the Puritans, Franklin was not simply parroting Puritan thought, and there are also a great many differences between the two as well. An examination of the two codes of ethics will demonstrate that while Franklin's code may well be based on the Puritan code, he diverted from a strict religious-based ethical system to a more practical system grounded in the natural world and its natural laws. While the Puritans concentrated their efforts on the religious aspects of virtue, Franklin felt...
They believed that a person's basic nature was sinful, and that a person could only live a good life through strict regulation of their personal life. It was the religious duty of every Puritan to devote themselves to a virtuous life which included hard work and refrained from such vices as fornication, drunkenness, blasphemy, and gambling. For instance, one famous Puritan stated in one of his sermons that "the abuse of drink is from Satan…the drunkard is from the Devil." (Johnson, 2001, p.2) The emphasis of a Puritan's effort was to aid a person in becoming a moral and religious person, not to gain in the world. However, many non-Puritans also viewed these virtues as something to emulate, although not entirely for the same reason.
Franklin Autobiography Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography is not only a story of his own relentless attempts at self-improvement, but also designed to be an early advice manual for others who intend to follow in his footsteps. He certainly was one of the most successful men on the 18th Century, rising from poverty and obscurity in Boston to owning a successful printing business, founding the University of Pennsylvania and the American Philosophical Society,
Benjamin Franklin & John Adams Both Benjamin Franklin and John Adams were 18th Century men, but both also stood out in their time and culture. They had different and unique views on many of the subjects of their day, from conflict to intimacy. Since both men focused on what was important to them, they were not as changed by the times as some of the others who worked with and around
Ben Franklin's Autobiography How is Franklin a combination of his American roots (In Puritanism and in the relative independence from the society of England) with the Enlightenment ideas of writers like Pope? I.e. -- How is he a particularly American version of Enlightenment Man? Analyze and use examples from BOTH content and style. In answering this question write this question; Write the question on top of the page labeled "your question." Ben
Benjamin Franklin - the Ideal American Benjamin Franklin is considered by many to be one of the greatest Americans to ever live, and is also held as an important pillar of America's national heritage. Some may also argue that he exemplifies the American dream and all that is truly American. As the son of a candlemaker and only receiving a minimal amount of formal education, Benjamin Franklin was unlimited by his
He also related how his small group of friends played tricks with their unwitting neighbors. His friends would set fire on alcohol, rekindled candles blown out, imitate lightning flashes or by touching or kissing and make an artificial spider move (Bellis). Using the Leyden jar, Benjamin made an electrical batter, roasted a fowl on a spit fired with electricity, ignited alcohol by electricity through water, fired gunpowder and shocked wine
He also pointed out, when speaking France, Spain and the Netherlands, that if the Colonies won their freedom, those country's colonies in the New World would be much safer from English intrusions (Isaacson, PAGE). However, he always acted like a statesman and never lost sight of the ideals of the rebel colonists, also encouraging other countries to aid the revolution because of its high ideals of liberty and democracy. Franklin's
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