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The influence of the biography of Benjamin Franklin
The influence of the biography of Benjamin Franklin
Autobiography of ben franklin
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The expansion of the Enlightenment from European culture to the roots of the Western soil culminated roughly from the sixteenth century to the eighteenth century. The Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason, was the epitome of dramatic advancements and revolutions in science, philosophy, society, and politics. Ideas and beliefs pertaining to matters such as religion, reasoning, natural law, and humanity catalyzed a plethora of worldwide views and new practices (Duigan). The dawn of the intellectual movement in Europe swept across the globe and summoned the American Enlightenment, essentially leaving behind a legion of diligent thinkers and a cultural legacy in world history. Fundamentally, the Age of Enlightenment transitioned from …show more content…
a time period of absolute rule, as demonstrated by the French monarchy, to a more renowned and incredulous society. However, the intellectual movement also cultivated optimistic attitudes towards knowledge, freedom, religion, human nature, and politics. The American Enlightenment was inspired by many fascinating thinkers of the British and French Enlightenment and brought light to the Dark Ages. Among the four American thinkers, one was known as a veracious man of religious freedom and strong supporter of federalism; his name was Benjamin Franklin. His contribution as an enlightened scientist funneled America through adversities like colonial politics and the revolutionary war.
Benjamin Franklin was recognized as an avid author, printer, scientist, and statesman. He was also huge proponent of leading a virtuous life only if it benefited the greater community through philanthropy and voluntarism. Franklin's act of altruism was called "enlightened self-interest" (Ralston). Needless to say, Benjamin Franklin was the backbone to promotion of the public good. Although he was known for many great contributions during the American Enlightenment, he was more than just an inventor of bifocals and discoverer of electricity's intrinsic properties. He was a truthful figure to his nation-states and aimed to build and propagate peaceful relations across America. Benjamin Franklin wrote in his autobiography the way to "moral perfection" based on thirteen virtues: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. Many of Franklin's vast inventions and innovations during colonial American is manifested in modern day. The compliance of a battery to be …show more content…
charged during frigid winters is plausible because of Benjamin Franklin's discovery of how electricity flows from a positive body to a negative body. He is also credible for the protection of high rise buildings and skyscrapers from vicious attacks of lightings. Franklin's studies in electrical behavior enabled him to invent a lightning rod in which an iron rod was attached to the top of the building and transpired the charges of lightning forces safely to the ground ("Benjamin Franklin's Inventions"). In essence, Benjamin Franklin fostered many values to the American society and supplied modern life with various scientific innovations by exploiting the natural behavior of electricity. In my opinion, Benjamin Franklin asserts an exceptionally selfless-concern for the greater community.
His contribution to the American Enlightenment exhibited favoritism of voluntary associations over governmental institutions as he relentlessly promoted a peaceful and altruistic life. I believe his significance throughout the American Enlightenment had a profound influence on modern life because of his innovations to science and vehement leadership. Benjamin Franklin not only advised his fellow citizens to live a philanthropic and dignified life but also practiced his words. I believe it is imperative for leaders to live by their word in order to demonstrate prudence. By joining the public and pursuing his goals of living a virtuous life, Benjamin Franklin is illustrating himself as a momentous and visionary thinker and leader. In addition, it is highly motivating to observe a leader and thinker who fostered a compelling interest for pursuing material wealth only if it coincided with promotion of the public good. Benjamin Franklin is indisputably a visionary leader in world politics and strong proponent of voluntarism. By and large, Franklin's passionate leadership, scientific contributions to the American Enlightenment, and influence on modern life helped synthesize new worldviews. The author, printer, scientist, and statesman pushed America through a tumultuous period of colonial politics and a revolutionary war, effectively leaving his mark as being the foundational
roots of American values and character.
Gordon S. Wood delves into Benjamin Franklin’s philosophical, political, and personal legacies in the biography, The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin. The book travels through Franklin’s experiments, his travels in Europe, and his role in the American revolution. The book begins when Franklin retires from business and becomes a gentleman. It was when he became a gentleman, it allowed him to analyze the world around him. “Indeed, he could not drink a cup of tea without wondering why the tea leaves at the bottom gathered in way rather than another,” a quote from Edmund S. Morgan’s book, Benjamin Franklin. Franklin spent a great deal of time in Britain before returning to America. When he returned, he threw himself into the American revolution, which sent him to France. After he accomplished his duties in France, he returned back home to America where he ran for public office.
The Enlightenment was a great upheaval in the culture of the colonies- an intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries which emphasized logic and reason over tradition. Enlightenment thinkers believed that men and women could move civilization to ever greater heights through the power of their own reason. The Enlightenment encouraged men and women to look to themselves, instead of God, for guidance as to how to live their lives and shape society. It also evoked a new appreciation and
During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were also known as the enlightenment or the age of reason because of its new ideas and innovations. Europe experienced a series of the drastic changes and revolutions. This altered the way people lived and their standards of living. The people responsible for this were known as the philosophers. They questioned the world and suggested answers to many problems.
The Enlightenment was the time period that followed the Scientific Revolution and was characterized as the "Age of Reason". This was the time when man began to use his reason to discover the world around him rather than blindly follow what the previous authority, such as the Church and Classical Philosophers, stated to be true. The Enlightenment was a tremendously broad movement that dominated much of the European thinking during the 18th century, however, several core themes that epitomized the movement were the idea of progress, skepticism against the Church, and individualism.
Benjamin Franklin was a remarkably talented man. He started his life as a printers apprentice, but went much farther then there. He developed things that were far more advanced than the time. Benjamin Franklin's stove for example, for cold winter nights, and bifocal lenses for reading. Franklin tracked storms to help understand the horrible weather endured by the colonies. But gis study of electricity made him mist famous and he was known world wide as the founder of the lightning rod. Not only was Benjamin Franklin helpful in developing ideas for better living, he was also a strong force in developing the new nation of America. Benjamin Franklins political views showed him to be a man who loved freedom and independence. His views towards England gradually changed from like to dislike until he finally
A time period known as The Age of Reason or The Enlightenment was when philosophy, politics, science and social communications changed drastically. It helped shape the ideas of capitalism and democracy, which is the world we live in today. People joined together to discuss areas of high intellect and creative thoughts. The Enlightenment was a time period in which people discussed new ideas, and educated people, known as philosophers, all had a central idea of freedom of choice and the natural right of individuals. These philosophers include John Locke, Voltaire, Adam Smith, and Mary Wollstonecraft.
Franklin was remembered for stating "the longer I live, the more convincing proof I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men." Franklin 's ideas that contributed to the Enlightenment is found in his Autobiography. His idea of a perfect person has 13 virtues and claims that a practical and scientific man is based on combining their values and economic values. Franklin preferred voluntarily societies over government control, all his thoughts can lead back to free opinion. In his, Almanac is reflected on his scientific interests and was popular within the
Benjamin Franklin is one of the most well-known men on earth! Everyone knows who he is, but not a lot of people have read about him. Mr. Franklin has an Autobiography that was published to us. In pages 411 through 417 of Benjamin Franklin Autobiography there is three topics Benjamin Franklin touches on when writing these five pages of his Autobiography. To begin with the first topic was about a library he opened up, the second topic he spoke about was about how he respects religion but doesn’t like religion controversy, and last but not least he wrote about thirteen virtues.
Though best remembered for his services as a diplomat and statesman during the American Revolution, this “wisest American” was also a philosopher, publisher, and scientist. His collection of common-sense sayings in Poor Richard's Almanack won immediate and lasting success. His other contributions came as the colonies' first postmaster general, and as founder of the American Philosophical Society, which later became the University of Pennsylvania.Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 [O.S. January 6, 1705] – April 17, 1790) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A renowned polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat.
In conclusion, Benjamin Franklin was faced with many trials and tribulations yet illustrates critically important adaptive goals and strategies. This Autobiography proves a story of an individual, rooted in a specific time and place, wrestling with universal human problems. Though very much a man of his own time, Franklin convincingly presents himself as a man for all times, regardless of who these thoughts were specifically intended for. To gain self-betterment, is to enhance who you are which in turn will help society as a whole, allowing the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin to be an accurate account of how to achieve the American Dream by a self-depicting utilitarian.
The Enlightenment is a unique time in European history characterized by revolutions in science, philosophy, society, and politics. These revolutions put Europe in a transition from the medieval world-view to the modern western world. The traditional hierarchical political and social orders from the French monarchy and Catholic Church were destroyed and replaced by a political and social order from the Enlightenment ideals of freedom and equality(Bristow, 1). Many historians, such as Henry Steele Commager, Peter Gay, have studied the Enlightenment over the years and created their own views and opinions.
Benjamin Franklin was a very prominent figure in shaping our nation. Many people look at him as a role model or just as an amazing individual. He had his faults just like every human being had, and he shouldn’t be discredited because of a few minor glitches to his character. As being the only person that had signed The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and the Treaty of Paris, this immediately separates him from all others. One of the things that he wrote about in Benjamin Franklin: The Autobiography and Other Writings, was trying to be the ideal person, and even made a list of virtues to live by. His virtues were very important to his lifestyle, and he followed them to a great extent.
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
Benjamin Franklin's moral and social philosophies inspired and continue to inspire millions around the globe. Becoming a "self-made man" is a long and arduous task. Improve yourself, which will in return improve the society. Contradiction is inevitable when trying to follow strict ideals. Franklin's purpose was to make people aware of their inclinations and to help them overcome the natural tendencies of man, which would limit our dependence on other people. Benjamin Franklin is an inspiration to us all.
The age of Enlightenment was a progression of the cultural and intellectual changes in Europe that had resulted from the scientific revolution during the sixteenth and seventeenth century. The scientific revolution and the discoveries made about the natural world would ultimately challenge the way people perceived the world around them. Scientist found real answers, by questioning flawed ancient beliefs that were widely held and maintained by the church. Ultimately, these discoveries and scientific advancements would evolve and effect social, cultural, and political developments in Europe over the course of time. The scientific revolution had provided certainty about the natural world that had long been questioned. With these new developments came the progression and influence of thought, rationality, and individualism. These new ideas would be the hallmark for the Enlightenment movement that would shape most of Europe in the eighteenth century.