Self-Education In Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography

Benjamin Franklin was one of the most profound and influential leaders of his time. Excelling in fields anywhere from philosophy to agriculture, Franklin was truly one who had “something important to add to the store of the world’s knowledge; and he did it with zest, charm, and a gift for the clear view” (Cousins 16). Franklin had a great passion for reading, in fact, he considered it as one of his only amusements, and evidently,

the advantage of self-education in Franklin’s case was clear. There were no boundary lines or terminal rituals, as in formal schooling, to mislead a person into thinking that he had completed his education. It never occurred to him that there was any point at which he could say that his learning was adequate for his

life’s work or for life itself. He could no more conceive of cutting his mind off from its natural food, knowledge, than he could expect to function physically in a starved condition. There was nothing phenomenal to him in the ability to think creatively and competently in so many fields, this was how the human mind was supposed to work (Cousins 16.)

Franklin was a very knowledgeable man, with a continuous desire to learn. And ultimately, this desire paid off. Being very successful in an array of subjects, he was also a talented and passionate writer. He wrote several books in his lifetime, one being his autobiography.

This autobiography provided great view on many topics through Franklin’s eyes, such as entrepreneurship, religion, politics, and much more. (Cousins 16).

Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography was published in 1793, with the intended audience being the people of the United States, or anyone for that matter, who were interested in his thoughts, routines, or beliefs. Franklin wanted to give a unique, and almost unheard of, perception of life and its principles. Chapter three, “A Colonial Life”, of Franklin’s autobiography provides excellent insight on his opinions of religion in the colonies, and his daily routine as well. Franklin was raised as presbyterian, and as a young man, he developed opinions about the church and how it operated. Later in his life, Franklin would be defined simply as a deist. A deist is a person who believes in a supreme entity that created the world and everything in it, and rarely have connections to the church itself. Franklin believed and followed many religious-based principles, but never tied himself to one denomination. His thoughts are reflected through his words in his autobiography. He states, “I never was without some religious

principles; I never doubted, for instance, the existence of a Deity, that he made the word, and governed it by his providence; that the most acceptable service of God as the doing good to man; that our souls are immortal, and that all crimes will be punished, and virtue rewarded, either here or hereafter. . . .” Contrary to common belief, most of the founding fathers had ideas branching off of deism, not Christianity or anything such. This shows how this men were innovative, free-thinking, and differentiating from the numerous amount of Protestant activity in the colonies. It can be assumed that many people of different religion, such as the Protestants of the time, in the colonies opposed his slightly contrasting views, but it is known that many delegates thought Franklin and his proposals should not be taken seriously, because of his thoughts slightly reflected those as an atheist, or free-thinker (Cousins 18). It is possible that the Protestants and people from other branches of religion may have agreed, since Franklin helped contribute to their own religious freedom and expansion, also, possibly because of his relatability and simplicity. Franklin was a simple man, and this is evident throughout the third chapter of his autobiography. “We kept no idle servants, our table was plain and simple, our furniture of the cheapest. For instance, my breakfast was a long time bread and milk (no tea) and I ate it out of a twopenny earthen porringer, with a pewter spoon”, shows his humbility and lack of desire for wealth or riches.

Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography is a source for intelligent and insightful ideas from Franklin himself, and chapter three “Colonial Ways of Life”, does a very good job of portraying them. Throughout chapter three, the readers will understand Franklin’s religious beliefs and what a daily routine is like for him, and with this perspective, the reader gains a whole different view f what they thought they knew before. Since Franklin and the founding fathers varying beliefs are reflected throughout the constitution, they create a fair, even, playing field for all, and this is a vital part in the making of our country. My opinion is that if it were not for Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography, people would not be able to better understand the reasoning behind decisions that helped determine the future for the United States, and I agree with Franklin and his reasoning behind most of his principles. The silent question of how the country will run with opposing ideas is resolved by Franklin and the founding fathers, and one answer is-religious freedom. Franklin’s way of thinking helped form an unbiased constitution, especially in terms of religion, and equal and fair opportunity for all in the colonies, and for the years to come.