Ben Franklin

Ben Franklin
By Stacy Schiff

This is one of those books that like Leaves of Grass by Whitman should be read once a year as a prescription for ones’ peace and happiness. As well, every parent must make it a pre-requisite to adulthood for their child to read this book. Practically a driver’s license, or college/business assistance, or simply going out of the house could be suitable points of leverage. While it is common knowledge that Ben Franklin was a self made man, reading the details of simple rules of discipline in personal as well as professional life not only allowed Ben Franklin a comfortable life, but also gave reason for generations upon generations to historically view him as citizen of this world to model ones life after.

As to my propensity for debate: Ben in is teenage years prior to leaving home found a friend, John Collins where he developed the skill of debate. Where as he states “disputations turn, by the way, is apt to become a very bad habit, making people extremely disagreeable in company by the contradiction that is necessary to bring in to practice, and thence, besides spoiling their conversation, is productive of disgusts and, perhaps enmities where you may have occasion for friendship.” … “I have caught it by reading my fathers books of dispute about religion. Persons of good sense, I have observed seldom fall into it, except lawyers, university men.” Yet with the honing of his skills with his good friend, and self study he would first practice the Socratic Method, asking distant questions and yet by degrees led his opponent to answers that would contradict his argument. Eventually, his practice in debate and in conjunction with the forming of his life long debate club JUNTO, his style of debate would be one not to use absolute terms. In this way he would preface his position with phrases such as it appears to me. This practice allowed debate to occur with out creating an offensive demeanor amongst the contestants. “The club continued onward of forty years which had us reading with attention upon several subjects that we might speak more to the purpose, and here too, be acquired better habits of conversation.”

As to my propensity for self study: I do prefer history, biography and auto biography of great persons. In the book Ben is advised of his biography that it will not merely teach self education, but the education of a wise man; and the wisest man will receive lights and improve his progress by seeing detailed the conduct of another wise man. The nearest thing to having experience of one’s own, is to have other peoples experience brought before us in a shape that is interesting…

As to my propensity for order: Franklin developed a personal report card for which to assess the net worth of his virtues. After temperance and silence came order. Of which he learned to appreciate flexibility in his measurement. In his youth his quick mind made up for is lack of order. Yet because he continued to discipline himself on this account, when his age took the sharpness out of his intellect a regiment of order found an increasing value of which he was thankful to have developed. Personally, I have come to rely on order early to make up for the not so brilliant of mind. Yet the key lesson is found in flexibility in measurement and the dynamic of all ones virtues of which make a whole person.

On virtue Franklin says “ In this piece it was my design to explain this doctrine, that vicious actions are not hurtful because they are forbidden, but forbidden because they are hurtful, the nature of man alone considered; that it was, therefore, everyone’s interest to be virtuous who wished to be happy even in this world (there being always in the world a number of rich merchants, nobility, states, and princes who have need of honest instruments for their management of their affair and such being so rare), have endeavored to convince young persons that no qualities to make a poor mans fortune as those of probity and integrity.”

On religion: Ben Franklin at first considered religion too dogmatic to provide much added value to his life. As an alternative to exposing himself to the regimented dogma of any one faith, he created for himself a score sheet with thirteen different categories of human and social behavior. These included Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Chastity and Humility. I find a few personal observations in this approach. First, this critique of the church was actually not a 1960’s phenomena and that man of the western world of good conscience over time raise question to contradictions found in the Bible. Yet at the same time under Humility, Franklin prescribes “Imitate Jesus and Socrates.” And finally to this end, Franklin prescribes that in personal measure in each category one must give tolerance to imperfection. This allowed him to attend church services for reason that it provided a good forum for public speaking.

On good fortune: Franklin espouses a simple vantage point that many have heard advocated in my debate. “Human felicity is produced not so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen, as by little advantages that occur every day. Thus, if you teach a poor young man to shave himself, and keep his razor in order, you may contribute more to the happiness of his life than in giving him a thousand guineas.” OK he may be a bit more poetic and eloquent. Elsewhere in the book you read about Franklins’ pursuit of inventions. My favorite being the Franklin stove where he did not seek a patent. His reason for not pursuing a sure fortune was based in the above quote. Yet with or without patent law he advocates that those who do find improved advantages in day to day life should also find their own individual happiness in the wealth bestowed upon the inventor. Thanks to Gates and Job, I can easily communicate the value of this reading experience.

This reading experience is a relaxing experience of 223 pages of which a few hours of your time will settle you mind on many of current day thoughts. Any of you are welcome to borrow, in the spirit of Franklin, my copy and are even more welcome to visit with me to discuss the merits of Franklin as contrasted against the world as we individually view it today. The rules for such debate are nested with in this book. A must read.