BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

The sole aim of understanding the aims and objective of making significant amends accordingly is to make a comprehensive paper regarding the credibility of the famous Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin changed his so-called image on several notes in the small amount of time that he wrote his autobiography. He started as a zealous scholar with a love for the sea that commented:

“All the little money that came into my hands was ever laid out in books”

The 18th century was the Enlightenment but also simply a time for illicit and much needed change. Franklin first embodied this century by refusing to be a clergy man as his Protestant ancestors had been. Franklin then after reading Socrates adopted a more passive way of life, buying into that theology. He, as an “18th century man” constantly asked questions, searched for books and challenged his friends. He questioned religion which was a drastic element of the 18th century thinkers. The general theme of the autobiography is one of self-improvement, which many men of the Enlightenment perused; some even strove for perfection of the human soul. Along with many free thinkers of the 18th century Franklin forms a group to discuss matters of the intellect, this one called Junto. He at length discusses his virtues. Franklin experimented least excitingly by using several surnames when writing to avoid detection. He practiced vegetarianism for a while and was labelled an atheist by his father, who then actually converted to deism, committing a life to “truth, sincerity and integrity.” Franklin proceeds to adopt the 'Habitude of 13 virtues' and goes through many more “experiments” of self through his early life (Franklin, 1771).

Franklin's ideals and change of spirit mimicked and paralleled much of the spirits of the philosopher's and “doctors of theology” that jumpstarted the defining ...