A Virtuous Life of Benjamin Franklin - Essay Example

Introduction Cicero, a popular Roman smen and listed the cardinal virtues that all persons should strive to fulfill, namely: justice, courage, prudence, and temperance. Aristotle also encouraged all men to live “a virtuous life.” Benjamin Franklin took up the challenge presented by Aristotle with energized fervor. Franklin’s is indeed an American legend based on his quest for moral perfection. Benjamin Franklin can be regarded as the one who truly embraced the notion of the “self-made man.” The key to Franklin’s success derives from a strong drive to accomplish his ambitions. In 1726, Franklin set his highest goal: the accomplishment of moral perfection. Franklin established 13 virtues embodying his commitment towards personal improvement and the attainment of moral perfection. The 13 virtues included: moderation, sincerity, order, silence, tranquility, frugality, cleanliness, industry, resolution, chastity, temperance, justice, and humility (Kurtus par. 1). Discussion Temperance represents the notion that is the contrary to overindulging, whether in food, drinking or anything else. Temperance incorporates control over impulses such as vanity, anger, or sexual desire. Exercise of temperament enables one to act in a manner that is socially desirable exercise empathy (Ford par. 1). According to Franklin, the virtue of silence encompasses speaking what is of benefits to others or self and avoiding trifling conversations. Silence refers to the condition or quality of being still and silent or a period spent without speech/noise. Silence is selecting suitable words to speak, knowing appropriate time to speak, and seizing an opportunity to stop speaking and start listening (Kurtus par. 2). The virtue of order entails letting all things have their places and letting segments of the business has its time. The virtue of the order seeks to enhance order within the system and minimize disorganization so as to gain more time for attending to one’s projects. The virtue of resolution entails performing what one ones obligation, without fail. Resolution describes the trait of having firmness of purpose (decisiveness/tenacity) or unshakable determination and perseverance to finish work. Resolution is a critical virtue as it largely determines the ethical quality of most people, as well as of their decisions given that one strives to meet his or her promises. The virtue of frugality encompasses making no excuse but doing well to others and self and wasting nothing. A frugal person is an individual who exercises self-control within the quantity of drink and food consumed or, in a wider sense, in purchases and expenditure, and consumption (Ford par. 2). Frugal is synonymous with restrained, and moderate in all expenditure or certain items such as drink, food, or luxury goods. The virtue of industry revolves around effective, time management and always engaging in something beneficial. Industry represents habitual diligence within any employment or pursuit of mental or bodily and incorporates paying attention to business rather than fostering idleness. Leisure cannot derive any meaning in the absence of work, and hard work serves to refine ones character. The virtue of sincerity centers on utilizing no hurtful deceit and thinking innocently and justly. The virtue of sincerity entails speaking and acting truly about ones feelings, desires, and thoughts. Sincerity relates to the quality of being open and truthful rather that hypocritical or deceitful. The virtue of justice encompasses wronging no one by doing something injurious to another or omission to do well. The virtue of justice is cardinal as it regulates all relationships that a person forms with others (Ford par. 3). Justice builds on the theory of proportionality reciprocity in which a just man is expected to render each and what is due to hers in due proportion. The virtue of moderation encompasses avoiding extremes and gaining control over an individual’s appetite for stimulation. Moderation relates to striking a balance between ideals and what can realistically be attained (Kurtus par. 3). This arises from the fact that humans mostly pursue higher stimulation at all times as we live in a society that can be regarded as the one saturated with stimulation. Cleanliness is the act of living in a clean way, efficiently, tidily, and shapes one’s personal habits. The virtue of cleanliness is indeed timely as the entire world need cleaning up given the increasing levels of pollution within the environment, food, water, and air. One must seek to be clean in the body and person, and, in doing so, seek to express positive emotions. The virtue of chastity demands avoiding dullness, weakness, or committing injury to self or another’s peace or reputation. As a virtue, chastity controls the desire for and utilization of those things that affords the biggest sensual pleasures (Ford par. 5). One of the prominent problems that lack of chastity heralds details blindness that yields to acts of imprudence. Tranquility refers to the quality or state of calmness, quiet, serenity, and peacefulness. Tranquility is a disposition; a mental state; an untroubled state; and is serenity/sense of stillness/quietness (Ford par. 7). Anger shapes one of the key primal passions that people must learn to harness, given that harnessing one’s anger award the strength to control other carnal tendencies. According to Franklin, the virtue of humility entails imitating Jesus and Socrates. The concept of humility responds to the inherent self-worth. In this context, the notion of humility incorporates behaviors and attitudes such as submitting to God and legitimate authority, and highlighting the limits of one’s capability, talents, or authority and not pursuing that which is beyond one’s grasp (Ford par. 8). Franklin appraised himself every day and marked with a dot each virtue that he had contravened. The aim of doing so centered on minimizing the number of marks; therefore, indicating a “clean” life liberated from vice (Kurtus par. 6). Franklin never attained his lofty goal of moral perfection, and manifested some notable flaws (such as womanizing and an attachment to alcohol). In order to live a virtuous life, starting on Monday and continuing each week, we highlighted one of Franklin’ virtues that we focused on throughout the week, and in every three days we kept a tally of the number of times we broke each virtue. This practice has enabled us derive significant benefits from the attempt by becoming a better and happier people. Conclusion Benjamin Franklin attempted to live his life following the virtues, but he frequently failed; but the virtues embody good intentions that one should follow in shaping positive character traits. It is worth trying, and my attempt to practice the virtues has been fulfilling as I attempt to be a person of good standing. Although, I have my chart has featured a number of dots, I have realize that no one is perfect. The 13 virtues are a good starting point as one pursues to become productive, successful, and self-actualized. Works Cited Ford, Paul. Benjamin Franklin on Moral Perfection: Practical Advice on obtaining a perfectly moral bearing, 2002. Web. 10 June. 2013. < http://www.ftrain.com/franklin_improving_self.html>. Kurtus, Ron. “Benjamin Franklin’s Thirteen Virtues”. School of Champions, 2012. 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