Journal #6

Journal #6

From 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?

In Franklin’s plan he wrote down a list of virtues he thought were the most important. There were 13 of them. He wrote them down in a little book and made a chart. Each week he would work on one virtue and try not to break it. If he did he would mark it in his book. He was working toward keeping his book free of marks, so that he would therefore be perfect. Franklin thought these virtues would make him perfect, but in truth it did not. He realized that perfect people are not well liked and that no one can be perfect. Even though he did not reach his goal, Franklin knew and felt like he was a better person.




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?

Yes, I do think his plan would improve me as a person. There are a couple of the virtues that I do not necessarily work hard on to stop or improve. Some I know I should practice, but I get lazy. If I followed these virtues, it is true that they would make me a better person. My top five virtues would be Order, Sincerity, Justice, Cleanliness, and Resolution.