Franklin Project review

I thought this project was menial and boring.  I understand the importance of learning how to work with others and learning how to communicate with people you haven't met, but the material of the topic became repetitive.  Perhaps this was more beneficial for the English 331 students than it was for me.  I felt as though I kept regurgitating the same material for two weeks, just wording it differently in each repetition.  This project did teach me about how to use the youtube video editor, which was neat to know how to do.  Learning how to use different kinds of communication systems while still accomplishing goals focused on progressing my knowledge and understanding of the English language and literature would be nice, and this did half of that.  I did learn how to communicate efficiently in a different way than I had previously explored, but this project did not further my understanding of Franklin or English literature.  This project is one that would be acceptable perhaps in the speech class offered by my school, but I believe, especially for the accelerated classes, this is repetitive.  During these weeks we could have been looking at other authors as opposed to skimming over a few works criticizing a 7 page excerpt from Franklin's Autobiography.  To make this project better for an English course, I think we should be linking Franklin's work to works of other authors of the time.  An interesting idea would be to relate American literature to British literature by comparing and contrasting Franklin with Locke.  That would be cool.  Something like that would be appropriate for an English course. We could also compare Franklin to someone from a later literary era.  Like comparing Franklin with Hemingway.  I understand that this could create conflicts with the teacher's lesson plans, but i feel this should be beneficial.  I like the potential of using different communication forms, but if that is all the project will be it should be used in the speech class or regular English, as opposed to the honors English course.

Franklin's Character Success

Ben Franklin was successful in altering his character with his thirteen virtues.  After observing Franklin's virtues and a criticism by Henry Tuckerman, it is determined that he succeed in improving his character.  Franklin was beginning to fall into a pit of vulgarity when he created his list of virtues.  His system and his appropriate selection of virtues allowed him to better his character.  He followed his virtues, gained self discipline, and absorbed his virtues into his personality.

Franklin's virtues were:

Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
Industry. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
Tranquillity. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

(Franklin 82-84)

Franklin's success comes from the perfection of the list of virtues he chose.  Each and every one of these virtues can be applied to individual points of life.  As well, all can be applied to every point of life.  For instance Order, industry, and resolution would appear to be very business oriented, but they could also be applied to events such as speaking with friends.  In business these virtues are obvious, do work on time and when and be be done when it supposed to be done.  When talking to friends, these virtues instruct not to bring up non sequiturs and to be concise but resolute.  The wonder of these virtues lies in that they all have their own applications, but belong in every application.

Franklin's system also taught him discipline.  Franklin would focus on improving one virtue per week in a thirteen week cycle.  The commitment required to fulfill a nonessential request over such a long time period demands tremendous discipline.  We see Franklin's devotion in this quote by Tuckerman, "The pervading trait of Franklin's character was allegiance to the Practical. Few devotees of knowledge have so consistently manifested this instinct, the more remarkable because united to speculative tendencies which quickened his intelligence and occupied his leisure to the very close of his existence." (Tuckerman 1).  Franklin was a man of his time.  The current societal movement was that of the Enlightenment era.  This era was defined by experimentation to reveal the workings of God's universe.  A time period revolving around the Practical.

Franklin's virtues eventually absorbed into his personality.  Franklin was now a virtuous man governed by personal laws, empowered by self discipline.  We see many of Franklin's virtues come though in his science.  Franklin becomes obsessed with advancing science and began conducting experiments with electricity.  His most famous experiment with the kite and the key in the storm led to the creation of the lightning rod.  Franklin invented many other useful inventions that are still used today.  This list includes; bifocals, a type of stove still common today, and the creation of the first fire department.  These inventions required insight and focus to be created.  To have these Franklin needed to master several of his virtues.  Franklin's politics also reflects his self improvement. He was often trusted to preside over the first Congressional conventions and to keep peace when there was disagreement, something he was not apt to do without his virtues.

Franklin was creating a work of genius when he wrote his thirteen virtues. The virtues apply to all aspects of life. To be mastered, Franklin's virtues require self discipline, a major bonus to the list of virtues.  Lastly, we see Franklin take on all qualities of these virtues in his later life experiments and politics.






Bloom, Harold, ed. "The Character of Franklin." Benjamin Franklin, Classic Critical Views. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CCVBF019&SingleRecord=True (accessed October 30, 2012).

Franklin, Benjamin. Autobiography. Philidelphia: Ben Franklin, n.d. 81-92. Print.

American Dream

The American dream has changed a lot since the founding of the colonies.  At the beginning of the colonies, the Dream was that of owning land and having freedoms. The colonists left England because they were being oppressed during the protestant movement in Europe. The Church of England had broken up and recreated itself a few times, and in an attempt to establish itself, the Church of England antagonized people of other religions such as the Calvinists and Quakers.  These groups hired and signed up to take boats to the "New Land" to start new lives away from oppression.  Some people traveled over believing that they would soon face poverty in England and needed to escape. Not until the creation of Georgia under George III and James Oglethorpe were there colonies specifically for debtors.  The original dream was that of a new life with less religious torment.  The current american dream is to strike it big.  Everyone wants to have the next big idea that will make millions of dollars.  Americans now dream of money and power.  People today describe success as who has the most money.  Today, money buys happiness.  Success is money and money is happiness, so it makes sense that this would qualify for success.  Money can not buy everything, like love and respect, but for most people it will do the job.  The dream for me is somewhat similar to this, but also very different.  I wish to become rich and famous and powerful like many do, but for me, I would like to change the world.  I want to make a revolution, an uprising, a surge of new thought.  I would most like to advance systems of transportation, but I also would like to change how the world views politics. Perhaps I will talk about this in another blog.  A friend of mine also aims to change the world of deep space propulsion.  As I have not asked permission, I will not reveal his name, but he is the co-founder of his own "rocket science" company.  His work is not patented so I do not know exactly what he is working on, but if successful it should cut costs of space travel significantly.  To do something like this is my dream.

Ben Franklin's Autobigraphy

Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography is brilliant. He embodies the school of thought of the Enlightenment.  Good old Benji and I seem to agree on most everything.  His views on church and theology are exactly mine.  He acknowledges his God, but feels church sends the wrong messages on what you should believe and why (Franklin 82).  He also sets out a list of virtues which I agree with and lays out a decent plan to achieve them (Franklin 84-85).

Benjamin Franklin's views on church verily agree with the mindset of the time.  Franklin believes there is a God. One that is able to punish and help, and redeem and condemn (Franklin 81). However, Franklin does not visit the church often.  This is characteristic of that time period because the Great Awakening has just ended and the Enlightenment era is beginning.  People are starting to visit church less than they used to.  This is because the people are moving past a time when you would be ostracized if you did not go to church.  The Great Awakening is most noted for it's fire and brimstone sermons.  It is understandable that people would want to get away from that. The Enlightenment period is known for its rational thought.  A rational thought of Ben's is that we should strive to better ourselves and society, which is also characteristic of Enlightenment.  Ben believes that church teaches you to assimilate rather than better yourself (Franklin 82).  I totally understand this. I get a somewhat uneasy feeling in church when we all chant our prayers and songs. It seems cultist. I like that the church teaches to respect others and yourself, but both Ben and I agree that the church seems to want you to act as they do because they tell you to, not because it is good for you (Franklin 82).  

Franklin also sets out a very good list of virtues he wishes to achieve. As I said in my last blog, a virtue is basically a moral or belief you hold dear.  Ben's virtues are: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility (Franklin 84-85).  Ben's virtues are based around how he believes people should act and how he believes society should act.  These virtues can be summarized by: do not speak without purpose, do not act to harm others, be productive, not wasteful, and show restraint.  Ben says he would like to attempt to tackle one on these virtues per week in a thirteen week cycle (Franklin 87).  I admire Franklin's drive to accomplish these goals. He sets out weekly lists of the virtues he has achieves, and reflects on them to better himself (Franklin 87).  I agree with most virtues on here and admire the ability of anyone who can control all of these.  I know I have trouble with it sometimes.  

Franklin's Autobiography is an insight to one of the greatest minds of the Enlightenment era.  Franklin shows traits that define this era. He lays out the morals of the time and even goes so far as to outline his progression toward virtuous perfection.  This is a very good example of the rationalist thoughts that were characteristic of the Enlightenment.

Franklin, Benjamin. Autobiography. Philidelphia: Ben Franklin, n.d. 81-92. Print.