Moral Perfection Of Benjamin Franklin

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Moral perfection. This was Benjamin Franklin’s way of living “..without committing any fault at any time” (Franklin, 63). Benjamin Franklin was very specific about the way he intended to live his life and the person he was aiming to become. Franklin seemed to believe that since he knew right and wrong, there was no reason not to always do right and avoid the other. This might have seemed like a crazy task, even impossible. However, Benjamin Franklin was determined to try to achieve this perfect lifestyle. In previous letters that Benjamin had received for encouragement to right and publish an autobiography, men had described him in many ways that made him worthy. Men used words such as your frugality, diligence, and temperance ( Benjamin …show more content…

All of Benjamin Franklin’s actions make us believe that these virtues are the way he intends to live his life for the rest of his life. Benjamin Franklin elf examined himself constantly and criticized his actions to change the ways he was carrying out certain stuff. Franklin divided up his day making sure that every hour and very minute was spent doing something productive- 6th virtue-. He explains why he uses such extensive meaning to describe the virtues that some find “outrageous”. For example, he has a particularly hard time with achieving the 13th virtue-Humility- and that is why he defined it as “Imitate Jesus and Socrates”. These two men are great men that some find impossible to imitate. This caused people to think of these virtues as a joke. However, imitating these two men is possible, in one’s own way. One can imitate their actions and incorporate their qualities into ones’ own character. The imitation of these two men would certainly solve Benjamin Franklin’s of being thought of as proud and would also solve other problems that Benjamin Franklin has with …show more content…

For example, he wanted to achieve virtues of being just, orderly, and a few other virtues can be used for other things other than being good for oneself. Franklin also seems to be a little obsessed with bettering oneself and perfecting oneself. To me, this seems like it could end up being an unhealthy way of living and achieving ones goals. Another thing that gives me reason to believe that Benjamin Franklin had anterior motives when publishing these virtues for moral perfection is that he never talks about religion because he believes that this will cause it to appeal to people of all religions. Why would Benjamin Franklin care that his virtues appeal to all religions if this was really about him bettering himself? Maybe this was to help other people better themselves too or was it for people to look up to

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