Benjamin Franklin Analysis

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Throughout The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Franklin uses his past and experiences as a model for the common man. He appears to be a man of morals and often speaks of important characteristics and virtues one should possess. For example, Franklin states that he “grew convinc’d that truth, sincerity, and integrity in dealings between man and man were of the utmost importance to the felicity of life” (Franklin 44). Franklin’s virtues seem like they are important to his morality, however, it sometimes appears that he abandons his morality or virtues, especially sincerity. This is a misreading as Franklin does not outright abandon morality. Instead, Franklin uses his virtues in a flexible and reasonable way to achieve his moral principle…show more content…
This shows that Franklin believes one should be sincere as long as following this virtue brings harms to no one. Therefore, if acting sincere causes harm or distress, then one should act insincere. He also advises to think before you speak and if you are not speaking kindly, then you should not speak at all. While sincerity is important to him, it is not important if it will bring harm to someone. Franklin demonstrates that sometimes there are instances where it is better to be insincere for the greater good. For example, there is no question that Franklin is insincere to his former business partner, Meredith. Franklin and Meredith own a printing business, but Franklin wishes to dissolve the partnership as Meredith possesses no skill and often shows up to work drunk. Meredith brought money to the partnership, but Franklin brought expertise, and Franklin now has two friends offer him money, so he can take the partnership upon himself. However, Franklin does not come right out and tell Meredith that he wishes to buy him out, instead, he uses reverse psychology. He expresses that maybe Meredith’s father, who gave Meredith the money for the business, is unsatisfied that the two are business partners and Franklin…show more content…
Steven Forde points out in his essay, “Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography and the Education of America,” that Franklin’s “own devotion [to virtue] as portrayed at points in the work has to be described as casual at best” (Forde 359). Franklin is casual, regarding his virtues because they are guidelines, not principles. He uses virtues to achieve his goals, and sometimes he needs to violate these virtues to achieve his goals or principles. His guidelines come in the form of virtues, like sincerity. He explains that virtues are not important for their own sake, rather they are important as they are the tools or instruments that help one do good. Virtues usually help people do good, but when they do not help, people must violate them for the sake of the principle. Franklin would argue that doing good is the core of morality and virtues are not the core, so he must sometimes sacrifice his virtues to achieve morality. Franklin uses his guidelines in this flexible way because he is reasonable. If Franklin strictly followed his guidelines at all times, it would be unproductive and inefficient. He places his goals and principles ahead of his guidelines and alters his guidelines to achieve these goals. Franklin does not view the world in black and white as he judges every situation on its own merits, therefore he would not advocate to
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