From Ben Franklin’s The Autobiography
1. Explain what was involved in Franklin’s plan for self-perfection? What conclusion did Franklin come to regarding the effectiveness of this plan?
Franklin conceived his plan for self-perfection after devising a project to achieve moral perfection. He conceived 13 virtues that he believed to be necessary or desirable. He planned to acquire one virtue at a time and use the virtues that he achieved1st to aid in acquiring others. The next virtue builds on the ones already in place. Franklin’s 1st virtue was temperance and that made all the others easier to achieve. He marked his progress in a little book and after going a week without breaking the virtue, he could move on to the next.
It took Franklin years to get all of the virtues in place because of interference from business and travel. Franklin concluded that no one can get read of all their faults and that a perfect character would only lead you to be envied and hated. A benevolent man should have a couple faults. He found himself much happier after attempting to acquire all the virtues even though he didn't achieve perfection. He did get some of the virtues in place despite struggling through others.
2. Do you feel that a plan such as Franklin’s would improve you as a person? Why or why not? What would be your top five virtues?
I think a plan like Franklin’s would improve me as a person because I am not perfect. There are virtues that I am lacking in and need to improve upon. I think that an ordered regiment of acquiring virtues would help me be a happier person like Franklin claimed after attempting the same task. My top 5 virtues would be order, frugality, industry, tranquility, and humility. These are the virtues that I find most important.
No comments:
Post a Comment