Summay of Benjamin Franklin

Throughout his life, he took palpable pride in his ability to organize cooperative endeavors and public-spirited projects.

The reason why Josiah Franklin didn't send Benjamin to Harvard was that he thought Benjamin was not suited for the clergy. Benjamin was skeptical, puckish, curious, irreverent. Franklin excelled in writing but failed math, a scholastic deficit he never fully remedied and that, combined with his lack of academic training in the field, would eventually condemn him to be merely the most ingenious scientist of his era rather than transcending into the pantheon of truly profound theorists such as Newton.

One aspect of Franklin's genius was the variety of his interests, from science to government to diplomacy to journalism, all of them approached from a very practical rather than theoretical angle.

Two books that influenced Franklin a lot:
1). John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress
Thesis: progress, the concept that individuals, and humanity in general, move forward and improve based on a steady increase of knowledge and the wisdom that comes from conquering adversity.

2). Plutarch's Lives
Thesis: individuals endeavor can change the course of history for the better

 History is a tale, not of immutable forces but of human endeavors.
Benjamin was influenced by Mather's idea that call on members of the community to form voluntary associations can benefit the society.

After some debates with his friends, Benjamin began to tailor for himself a persona that was less contentious and confrontational. He concluded that being disputatious was a very bad habit because contradicting people produced disgusts and perhaps enmities. He preferred Socrate's method of query. (gentle indirection rather than confrontation in making his arguments)

One of Benjamin's maxim: So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to  do.

His most notable trait was a personal magnetism: he attracted people who wanted to help him.

Franklin easily made casual friends, intellectual companions, useful patrons, flirty admirers, and circles of genial acquaintances, but he was less good at nurturing lasting bonds that involved deep personal commitments or emotional relationships, even within his own family.

Franklin never developed into a rigorous, first-rank philosopher, he was more comfortable exploring practical thoughts and real-life situations than metaphysical abstractions or deductive proofs.

Plan for future conduct:
1. It is necessary for me to be extremely frugal for some time, till I have paid what I owe.
2. To endeavor to speak truth in every instance; to give nobody expectation that are not likely to be answered, but aim at sincerity in every word and action--the most amiable excellence in a rational being.
3. To apply myself industriously to whatever business I take in hand, and not divert my mind from my business by any foolish project of suddenly growing rich; for industry and patience are the surest means of plenty.
4. I resolve to speak ill of no man whatever.

One of the fundamental sentiments of the Enlightenment was that there is a sociable affinity, based on the natural instinct of benevolence, among fellow humans, and Franklin was an exemplar of this outlook.                  

Four questions:
(1) do you ever disrespect for any current member?
(2) do u love mankind in general regardless of religion or profession?
(3) do u feel people should ever be punished because of their opinions or mode of worship?
(4) do u love and pursue truth for its own sake?

 Franklin concluded that it is useful to believe that a faith in god should inform out daily actions, but he was devoid of sectarian dogma, burning spirituality, deep soul-searching, or a personal relationship to Christ. The fundamental tenet of Benjamin's morality is " the most acceptable service to God is doing good to man".