FRANKLIN DISCUSSION...The American Enlightenment

"Of all my inventions, the glass armonica has given me the greatest personal satisfaction."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D9BBMDWoNM

FRANKLIN QUOTES:

A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.

A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. There will be sleeping enough in the grave.

A small leak can sink a great ship.

As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence.

Content makes poor men rich; discontentment makes rich men poor.

Educate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future and crimes from society.

He was so intelligent, that he could name a horse in nine Languages. So ignorant, that he bought a cow to ride on.

He that lies down with dogs shall rise up with fleas.

Historian Walter Isaacson tells us, "had faith in the wisdom of the common man and felt that a new nation would draw its strength from what he called 'the middling people.'"

“We hold these truths to be…”

Describe Franklin’s childhood.

What was Franklin’s daily life like?

Give some examples of how Franklin spends his time making society better. Why do you think he does this?

Give some examples of how Franklin spends his time making himself better.

Look at Franklin’s list of Virtues on 95 and 96. Are these still beneficial precepts by which to live one’s life?

Look at the passage on page 43 that begins, “One of the Pieces in our News-Paper gave Offence to the Assembly.”

What does the passage suggest?

In Part 3 of the Autobiography Franklin reflects on the problems encountered when governments are in the hands of people who pursue their own private interests at the expense of the public good. 

What solution does he advocate?  How realistic do you think it is? 

Describe Franklin’s religious beliefs. What does the passage about George Whitefield say about Franklin’s view of religion?

Isaacson writes, "The essence of Franklin is that he was a civic-minded man. He cared more about public behavior than inner piety, and he was more interested in building the City of Man than the City of God."

How does he view Whitefield? (115)

“If someone comes from Constantinople to preach Mohamedism, we should give that person a pulpit and be willing to listen.”

How should Franklin be remembered?

Inventor? Patriot? Slaveowner? Abolitionist? Author? Entrepreneur?

Franklin’s death:

April 17, 1790

--funeral march attended by 20,000