2130 Franklin Group Questions

Question #1:

Franklin uses condescending language as a tool to highlight his own perfection. The list of virtues Franklin writes contradicts his actual practices in life. For instance, Franklin’s definition of Humility is “to imitate God and Socrates”, which he admits “habit took the advantage of inattention”, thus admitting he does not want to leave room for mistakes (284-285). Franklin places himself on a high pedestal, along with “God and Socrates” as a way to persuade the reader to seek perfection. Additionally, when Franklin makes the move from Boston to New York because of job problems, that move is an exemplar or bettering his own life. Although, in his “brother’s case it was likely I might if I stay bring myself into Scrapes”, Franklin was determined to find work and better his circumstance regardless of a feud with his brother. Franklin’s pride creates an image of power that the reader can recognize or idolize.

Question #2:

Franklins dream is known as the “rags to riches dream”. In part one Franklin believed you had to have truth, sincerity, and integrity in man to man dealings. In part two he list thirteen of his virtues and each one of them deals with his idea of the Franklinian dream. Franklin had thirteen virtues which he felt helped him to reach the American Dream of his time period but, today order, industry, and tranquility are the main virtues that relate to todays’ time. In today society without order it is hard to succeed in life. Order allows structure and set deadlines in order to get tasks done. Industry tells individuals to go after your dreams without wasting time in an unproductive manner. Tranquility tells us not to worry about issues which are out of our control. Oprah exemplifies many of these virtues such as order, tranquility, and humility. She shows humility in her actions by giving back to those who are less fortunate than her. In the movie Forrest Gump he exemplifies the rags to riches dream. He proves that no matter what obstacles you face you can always overcome them by living virtuously. Everybody has the choice whether or not to pursue their dreams but some people do not have the motivational drive to continue towards the Franklinian dream.

Question #3:

Benjamin Vaughn describes Franklin's autobiography as an “efficacious advertisement” of the American experience in numerous ways by recalling specific examples from Franklin's autobiography. When Vaughn says “But your Biography will not merely teach self-education, but the education of a wise man,” he believes Franklin is the epitome of the American dream (Vaughn 278). The idea of “rags to riches” was based solely off of one's will for success. What makes Franklin characteristic, as we say, is his drive to stray from conformity even though his father could not afford for him to further his education. He helped to form the idea “if you believe you can achieve”, which went hand in hand with his virtues, which were basic guide lines to help build his character.

Question #4:

Franklin manipulates the reader in both Part I and Part II. In part I, he attempts to show modesty and humility. Franklin does not live up to his own standards. In part II, he controls what he puts down and shows pride in his writing. In reference to page 292, Franklin says “For even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my Humility.” He is an “efficacious advertisement” because he knows that he is going to be representing a larger audience, therefore, he chooses to better himself for himself and his community. Franklin does things to portray a certain image (the self-made man). Franklin endorses his own ideas and feels that he is doing something charitable with the ideas that he presents. On page 291, Franklin says “[. . .]I should have called my Book the ART of Virtue, because it would have shown the Means and Manner of obtaining Virtue; which would have distinguish’d it from the mere Exhortation to be good, that does not instruct and indicate the Means; but is like the Apostle’s Man of verbal Charity, who only, without showing to the Naked and the Hungry how or where they might get Clothes or Victuals, exhorted them to be fed and clothed. James II, 15, 16.”

Question #5:

According to Wikipedia.com utility is a measure of the relative satisfaction from or desirability of consumption of goods. Given this measure, one may speak meaningfully of increasing or decreasing utility, and thereby explain economic behavior in terms of attempts to increase one's utility. The doctrine of utilitarianism saw the maximization of utility as a moral criterion for the organization of society.

Franklin sees religion and morality as something to better society and not something to live your life for, which contradicts the views of his time. Franklin says, “Tho’ I seldom attended any Public Worship, I had still an Opinion of its Propriety, and of its utility when rightly conducted, and I regularly paid my annual Subscription for the Support of the only Presbyterian Minister or Meeting we had in Philadelphia” (283). Franklin didn’t attend church regularly; he just paid his dues so that he would be “covered”. He says that he pays his subscription so that he will have the minister’s “support”. Franklin viewed religion in a rational way.

“I cannot boast of much Success in acquiring the Reality of his Virtue; but I had a good deal with regard to the Appearance of it” (292). In his list of virtues, Franklin describes Humility as striving to imitate Jesus or Socrates. The appearance of virtue is more important to Franklin than the reality, because trying counts.

Franklin sees religion as something to better his life right now instead of in the afterlife. Franklin acknowledges God by giving him credit for his success. He thanks God for the “happiness” (232).

Question #6:

The original response to this question is that the virtues individually are probable, but as a one standard of living it is near impossible to live up to the list. The belief of the group is that Franklin did not intend for his virtues to be laws to live by, but they are goals to strive towards in everyday life. Franklin does not live up to his own virtues of humility, chastity or temperance and this failure causes us to believe that sincerity is also lost along with the fore mentioned virtues. Though by his own admission, he learned from a well respected friend, who provided him with specific examples, that he does not practice humility. By allowing a former friend to run off with money Franklin borrowed from another good friend, it is apparent he has not yet learned the virtue of frugality that he writes about. Commenting on his sincerity Franklin writes “If I were home among my papers this would be more accurate.” This quote give direct indication that he may be stretching the truths he writes about because he is relying strictly on a biased memory and therefore he is unable to live up to the virtue he seeks. Franklin argued that by practicing these virtues one would become a better person, however, he understood that it came with time and experience. This idea directly contrasts to the Puritan belief that one was innately virtuous due to God’s will. The opposing idea parallels the fundamental difference in the way they both viewed achieving heaven in the afterlife. Puritans believed in predestination, where those who were virtuous wore born that way, would live that way and therefore would end up in heaven because it was God’s will. Franklin believed through dedication, hard work and constant daily efforts one could earn his place in heaven.