Ideas From Benjamin Franklin’s Philosophy, Essay Example

Perhaps the best example that contains many of Franklin’s philosophical viewpoints that are still relevant today is his famous autobiography which covers his life from about 1771 to 1790. In Part Two of this work, Franklin discusses in-depth what he calls his “bold and arduous Project to arrive at moral perfection” via a list of thirteen human virtues that he considered as necessary and desirable (“The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”). Many of these virtues or philosophical directives are still relevant today despite the passage of more than two hundred years.

For example, Franklin stresses that order is of prime importance in one’s life, especially related to a business or enterprise–“Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time,” meaning that everything belongs in its proper place and that order is necessary in order to run a prosperous business. There is also frugality or being frugal which Franklin equates with not wasting time and doing good for others–“Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.” This is particularly true today in relation to conserving the natural environment and recycling waste products which not only saves money but also time. In addition, Franklin stresses that one must be industrious–“Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions,” meaning that time is money and what can be done today is more important than what one plans to do tomorrow. Also, Franklin advises that a person must be sincere in his/her actions–“Use no hurtful deceit” and when speaking to another person, speak “justly” and “accordingly.” There is also justice in relation to not harming anyone which is especially true today related to creating just laws rather than unjust laws; “Be not disturbed at trifles” or focus on what is truly important; and of course, moderation in everything, or as Franklin describes it, “Avoid extremes” via being greedy for more material wealth at the expense of others (“The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”).

Franklin also notes in his autobiography a number of observations pertaining to the history of the world. Some of these are quite pertinent to today’s state of affairs related to politics. For instance, “That the great affairs of the world, the wars, revolutions, etc., are carried on and affected by parties” via political parties and special interest groups run by lobbyists; “That the different views of these different parties occasion all confusion” or that political parties are solely responsible for all of the chaos that is now occurring in Washington, DC; “That while a party is carrying on a general design, each man has his particular private interest in view,” being a reference to politicians who only care about their own political advancement; and “That few in public affairs act from a mere view of the good of their country,” meaning that politicians may announce in public that their actions are for the good of the Nation, while in truth, such actions are meant to reinforce the power of a particular group or organization, such as with today’s huge corporations and what former President Eisenhower once described as the “Military Industrial Complex” (“The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”).