Ben Franklin’s Autobiography

Virtues and Aphorisms

Mon 10/17

QuickWrite (yep, they’re back!): In your notes, please respond to the following questions.

1) Define PERFECT in your own words.

2) Why do we seek perfection?

3) What causes people to buy “self-help” books?

4) Can we ever attain perfection? If not, why?

RATIONALISM

America in the 1700’s

History:

Revolutionary War 1775-1783 Constitution Written - 1787, the

world’s oldest constitution still in use today

George Washington – Commander in Chief of Continental Army, and First President of U.S. (1789-1797)

God

God is pictured as an uninvolved creator, or “clockmaker” who set up creation and left it to run.

Nature

God designed his natural laws to be revealed through nature.

Individual

Man is considered naturally good; concepts of equality and individual freedoms are expanded; the self-made man is idealized.

Society

People are encouraged to perfect society by being socially responsible and promoting justice.

Ideas

Discovery of truth comes through scientific reason and logical thought rather than through formalized religion.

Literature

Writing is in the form of pamphlets, essays, speeches, and letters – both public and political. Emphasis is often on persuasion.

Authors

Benjamin Franklin - newspapers

Patrick Henry - speeches

Thomas Paine - essays

10/17 Today’s Agenda: Virtues

Ben Franklin’s Autobiography (p.270) is an attempt to achieve perfection step-by-step (or virtue-by-virtue). Your task, with a partner nearby, is to accomplish the following:

1) Define the virtues using a dictionary or thesaurus.

2) Look on p. 270 for Franklin’s key idea that connects to the virtue and rephrase it in your own words.

3) Draw a visual representation of your assigned virtue. Consider what Franklin was trying to say. Label your virtue so we know what you’re defining.

4) Please include your rephrase---you are teaching us what it means!!

5) Present it to the class.

10/18 Today’s Agenda: Aphroisms An aphorism is a concise statement of a

principle, a saying or an adage. Today, you will be given three aphorisms

with your group and asked to consider where they fit within the virtues.

You will actually participate in a “tea party,” circulating around the room and placing your aphorisms underneath a labeled virtue.

We will discuss, as a class, whether or not they fit.