Benjamin Franklin and Rationalism

      Benjamin Franklin was one of the most prolific authors, inventors and statesmen in American history.  His contributions to multiple components of American society led him to be one of the most famous Founding Fathers.  Franklin attributes his accomplishments to having a framework of principles and an organized plan for his daily activities.  Franklin details this framework in his autobiography, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.   Both his writing and framework for living are noteworthy examples of the rationalism period in American history, reflecting the teaching of values, emphasis on reason and a belief in a distant God. 

      One of the main tenants of rationalism is the teaching of value.  Franklin is very instructive of his virtues and explains in great detail how he attempts to live by them.  He made a list of these virtues that he describes as necessary and described the ways that he was attempting to conform to them.  He made it apparent that it was a learning experience, because he did not succeed even with full concentration.  “I was surpris’d to find myself so much fuller of faults than I had imagined; but had the satisfaction of seeing them diminish” (Franklin 88). The list of virtues he was working on included temperance, silence, order, and humility just to name a few.  His writings of these virtues and dedication to following them, demonstrates the idea of instructive values in rationalism.  Franklin used his knowledge to instruct both himself and the reader how to live by pure virtues.  

      Rationalism also places much emphasis on reason opposed to experience.  Benjamin Franklin also supports this idea in his autobiography.  He uses an orderly thinking pattern to try to live by the virtues he set for himself.  Franklin uses logic when he explains the interrelatedness of the virtues, how development of one aids in the development of another.  Franklin focuses on one virtue each week, rather than trying to become perfect in his first try.  He stated that “I was often surprised by another; habit took the advantage of inattention; inclination was sometimes too strong for reason” (Franklin 82).   He understood that orderly thinking and logic was necessary to make the best decisions rather than trust his experience as a human.   

      Like other Rationalists of his day, Franklin believed in God and morality, but distanced himself from the various religious sects.  This was a result of his study time on Sundays, and the distorted goals of many religious groups.  He stated that “Their aim seeming to be rather to make us Presbyterians than good citizens” (Franklin 82).  Benjamin Franklin believed living a morally blameless life was an achievement to strive for, and he tried to live up to it himself. By not taking a specific religious sect, he hoped it “might be serviceable to people in all religions, and intending some time or other to publish it, I would not have any thing in it that should prejudice any one, of any sect, against it” (Franklin 90). 

      Benjamin Franklin reflected the Rationalism period as seen through his autobiography.  His clear focus on virtues, emphasis on logic and reason, and strong sense of morality came out clearly in his life as well as in his writings.  This strong focus on virtues and daily organization allowed him to achieve much more than the average man.   His influence was a precursor to the concept of goal-setting and objectives that people set and strive for today.

Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.