Journal #6: Ben Franklin’s The Autobiography (p. 80–83)

Write a well-developed paragraph in response to the following questions.

1. Explain what was involved in Franklin’s plan for self-perfection? What conclusion did Franklin come to regarding the effectiveness of this plan?

Franklin’s plan for self-perfection included a listing of thirteen virtues essential for moral perfection. Temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility are all the building blocks to achieving moral perfection according to Ben Franklin. Franklin created a day chart in which he focused on one virtue a week, but still keeping track of the other twelve. He would be able to complete focus on all thirteen virtues four times a year, which would be a grand total of fifty-two weeks. Throughout each day, Ben would make a black mark on the virtue he broke. Franklin devised this perfection-plan on a whim to see if he could acquire moral perfection. As time progressed, Franklin realized he was faultier then he thought. He had the toughest time with the virtue of order. The effectiveness of this plan proved to be not so effective. He concluded that a “perfect character might be attended with the inconvenience of being envied and hated; and that a benevolent man should allow a few faults in himself, to keep his friends in countenance.” In other words, a perfect person is envied for their perfection because it is so rare, so an average man should allow faults in himself in order to be considered human and to keep sane.


2. Do you feel that a plan such as Franklin’s would improve you as a person? Why or why not? What would be your top five virtues?


I feel like Franklin’s plan would improve me as a person because even if you do not achieve perfection, you better yourself as a person by trying. This was Franklin’s intention. It is better to at least try to be perfect and allow faults in yourself, rather than to not try at all. My top five virtues would be order, frugality, sincerity, cleanliness, and humility.