Benjamin Franklin, a founding father, scientist, politician, and diplomat, has been etched into the minds of Americans for generation after generation. His moral template, life stories, and vision for the newly founded America highlight the major themes of his work, “Autobiography,” which still influences many people to this day. Although many Americans still place Franklin on a pedestal, there are some critics who question the moral foundation that Franklin laid out in his work. Steven Forde examines the questioning of Franklin’s moral teaching in his article, “Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography and the Education of America.” By paying attention to the text and keeping in mind the bigger picture motive that Franklin has, Forde seeks to unravel
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Forde does not discuss how Franklin was writing for a specific audience which is very important to completely understand what Franklin means. This was an audience that had traveled over many miles of treacherous waters in search of a new beginning and an opportunity to make it big. The materialist ambition that Franklin discusses resonates with these people, motivating them to follow these virtues so that they too can enjoy the successes that Franklin himself had enjoyed. “It is a simple fact that a certain amount of prosperity is a necessary precondition of virtue in a democratic society like America” (Forde 358). This vision is still materialistic, but it’s only after the audience had bought in that Franklin corrects it. After using virtue to gain the prominence that the audience is pursuing, Franklin makes it clear that one must then use their prominence for the public good. Thus, instead of using virtue as a means to a successful end, Franklin uses virtue as a means and an end. Franklin uses his own life as an example. From the cultivation of virtue, Franklin became a prospering printer that was able to retire at the age of 42; however, Franklin did not sit on his lump sum of money and twiddle his thumbs. Instead, Franklin pursued much more worthy …show more content…
Franklin had the amazing ability to connect with just about everyone he met. However, Forde points out that this ability just like his reason was “an acquisition or contrivance, rather than something native to him” (Forde 363). Franklin believed that it was the reform and moderation of his speech that guided him to his prominence. In fact, Franklin tells the audience that he left Boston due in part to the bad reputation that resulted from his untamed arrogance and “pugnacious method of dispute” (Forde 364). According to Franklin, pride was the biggest obstacle that one must face when pursuing sociability. This was especially difficult for Franklin who enjoyed being right. Thus, instead of fully negating the pride he drew from social encounters, Franklin used reason to moderate the pride. He wanted to be perceived as humble through his words and actions. Instead of using words such as “certainly, undoubtedly, etc.,” Franklin adopted the words, “I conceive, I apprehend, or I imagine” (Baym 308). Franklin also “denied (himself) the pleasure of contradicting one abruptly” when he thought them to be incorrect (Baym 308). By practicing this, Franklin says that he was convinced of new things that he originally thought to be
Forde does not discuss how Franklin was writing for a specific audience which is very important to completely understand what Franklin means. This was an audience that had traveled over many miles of treacherous waters in search of a new beginning and an opportunity to make it big. The materialist ambition that Franklin discusses resonates with these people, motivating them to follow these virtues so that they too can enjoy the successes that Franklin himself had enjoyed. “It is a simple fact that a certain amount of prosperity is a necessary precondition of virtue in a democratic society like America” (Forde 358). This vision is still materialistic, but it’s only after the audience had bought in that Franklin corrects it. After using virtue to gain the prominence that the audience is pursuing, Franklin makes it clear that one must then use their prominence for the public good. Thus, instead of using virtue as a means to a successful end, Franklin uses virtue as a means and an end. Franklin uses his own life as an example. From the cultivation of virtue, Franklin became a prospering printer that was able to retire at the age of 42; however, Franklin did not sit on his lump sum of money and twiddle his thumbs. Instead, Franklin pursued much more worthy …show more content…
Franklin had the amazing ability to connect with just about everyone he met. However, Forde points out that this ability just like his reason was “an acquisition or contrivance, rather than something native to him” (Forde 363). Franklin believed that it was the reform and moderation of his speech that guided him to his prominence. In fact, Franklin tells the audience that he left Boston due in part to the bad reputation that resulted from his untamed arrogance and “pugnacious method of dispute” (Forde 364). According to Franklin, pride was the biggest obstacle that one must face when pursuing sociability. This was especially difficult for Franklin who enjoyed being right. Thus, instead of fully negating the pride he drew from social encounters, Franklin used reason to moderate the pride. He wanted to be perceived as humble through his words and actions. Instead of using words such as “certainly, undoubtedly, etc.,” Franklin adopted the words, “I conceive, I apprehend, or I imagine” (Baym 308). Franklin also “denied (himself) the pleasure of contradicting one abruptly” when he thought them to be incorrect (Baym 308). By practicing this, Franklin says that he was convinced of new things that he originally thought to be