preview

Franklin's Virtue Analysis

Decent Essays

The art of virtue is a distinct method employed by Franklin. The method features thirteen different aspects: “Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Chastity, and Humility”. Franklin believed that it was essential and advantageous for one to follow this instruction of method, not only to be happy, but to attain clarity, morality, and virtue. Franklin’s first act of virtue, temperance, necessitated self-control of eating and drinking “Eat not to Dulnesss / Drink not to Elevation” (987). Franklin’s second virtue, silence, dictated not to involve yourself in useless discussion, as he illuminates “Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself” (987). Franklin’s …show more content…

Franklin devoted each week to a different virtue, explaining that if he could undertake and accomplish one, he could go onto the next. Franklin would mark down a black spot if he failed at that week’s / day’s virtue. Franklin additionally constructed a table in his book, specifically for order, in which he not only wrote down hours for working and basic daily activities, but a daily question of “What Good shall I do this Day?...What Good have I done to day?” (990), maintaining his moral standards. Franklin explained that to achieve the objective of virtue one must be steadfast, take everything in life in moderation, and do good on to others as well as the self. Franklin continued this method vigorously through his life, in thirteen week increments, until slowly he was able to dwindle down to once a year to every few years or so, enabling him to achieve his desired …show more content…

The art of virtue is not precisely religious, it has more to do with the personal self, most importantly self-reliance. Whereas, in Puritan values one must always rely first on God and his true and devout ways. On the topic of religion, in the art of virtue, Franklin himself wrote that he “purposely avoided them for being fully persuaded of the Utility and Excellency of my Method, and that it might be serviceable to People in all Religions” (992). In the discernments of Puritan’s, Franklin leaving out any religion in his art of virtue would have been deeply looked down upon, since in their eyes there is only one true religion and all must follow it. Franklin’s art of virtue was meant for any and all ideals, as long as one was looking for morality. Everything in a Puritan’s life is done for God and the ideal that by following his instructions they will wind up in that well-deserved place called heaven. The art of virtue focuses on the ideal of the moral self, and what that entails for one’s personal virtue, how these virtues will help them throughout the life they are living, and is not worried about Gods judgement or where that might lead them in the

Get Access