What Is Benjamin Franklin's Self-Improvement Project

During the Neo-Classic period there was a belief in the possibility of human perfection. Human perfection is the state of completeness and flawlessness. Benjamin Franklin was a believer of human perfection in this period of time. He attempted to become perfect by listing character traits that contributed to perfectibility and also made a schedule of his day.

From the time children are entered into preschool, they are expected- for the most part- to do their best and be proud of it. One child’s best could be another child’s worst, and that other child’s best could be totally impossible for the first child. If everyone is doing their version of the best work possible, then could perfection ever possibly be achieved? It is a generally accepted truth that the answer to this question is an obvious and resounding no. By definition, a perfect human does not exist. However, humans are constantly striving towards this goal despite their knowing that it is impossible. The constant striving brings people closer and closer to the impossible goal but leaves them just shy of reaching it. This close-but-not-quite-there ending means a life that it is almost perfect. A life almost straight.

Many of the practices established by Benjamin Franklin in reference to industry and productivity are still witnessed throughout today's society. The most noticeable impact Franklin had on the idea of work was his invention of the forty hour work week - five 9am to 5pm work days. Many adults and most children who have held a job are well aware of this philosophy as it is universally recognizable and has been taught to almost everyone from an early age. Unfortunately, many Americans have slightly modified the "Franklinian" model, going about work with a different mindset than Benjamin Franklin himself intended. Back when Franklin worked, he would wake up and ask himself how he could better benefit society through his work, "Address Powerful Goodness;

Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography is an inspiring tale of his personal, as well as public achievement throughout his life. Franklin’s life embodies the exemplary model of a life composed of discipline, self-reliance and self improvement. From his humble beginnings as an apprentice candle and soap maker in his father’s business to a successful business man, author, philosopher, civil activist, politician scientist, inventor, and diplomat, above all Benjamin Franklin was, and still is, an American Icon and truly a pioneer of the American Dream.

It can be said that all great men have a good work, something that carries their name far past the memory of their time. These such works are written down in the papers of history in a way that no fire could burn and no water can damage. Benjamin Franklin, one of our founding fathers, wrote, “If you would not be forgotten, as soon as your dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing” (Franklin). Franklin was not only a founding father, he was a well-known scientist during the American Enlightenment, experimenting with electricity as well as physics. Franklin was also an inventor, inventing the lightning rod and the bifocals.

Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on January 17, 1706. He would be the tenth out of seventeen kids that his dad, Josiah Franklin, would have. His dad had plans for Benjamin to join the church when he became an adult and was sent to language structure school to get ready. He would exceed expectations in perusing at an extremely youthful age however would find that he couldn't ace math so natural. He would be at the linguistic use school for not as much as a year prior to his dad would deal with not having the capacity to bolster a school instruction for Benjamin and supporting whatever is left of the substantial family. Benjamin would then be sent to another school which would show him essential math and English aptitudes. There, he would outperform whatever remains of class in English while in the end fizzling number juggling once more bringing on his dad to draw him from school together (Becker, 1931). At ten years old Benjamin would be

Perfection? Can any one person be perfect? Benjamin Franklin believed that he could accomplish this task. Benjamin Franklin was known for being a cognizant and diligent perfectionist. During his lifetime, many people were concerned with correcting themselves of any fault that they may have had. Benjamin Franklin did have an interesting way to proclaim how he, could show everyone how to be perfect. He believes that he can make himself perfect. Even though his ways of being perfect are not the same as everyone else's ideas, he still tries to show them he can be perfect. In his essay "Arriving at Perfection" Benjamin Franklin tries to tell everyone how he will be perfect and how he is going to actually accomplish this task.

In Part 2, Franklin tells his son of his Quaker friend who questioned the author’s humility and suggests an addition to his list of virtues. Franklin, then a quasi-scientist of virtue, made a point of illustrating charts that mapped his progress in “acquir[ing] the Habitude of all these Virtues” (81). This Quaker insinuates that Franklin is too proud, which shakes the author’s hubris enough to inspire him to prove the Quaker wrong. After a mediocre effort to achieve Humility, which he could not “boast of much Success” (89), Franklin concludes that there is no harder human trait to suppress than Pride and it will inevitably show itself. Even though Benjamin’s willpower is portrayed with great

Franklin uses his plan for self-improvement to change himself. While most people want to improve themselves, Franklin takes it to another level. The quest to enhance one’s self is to change one’s self. After all,

It was the year 1706 in Boston, MA when Benjamin Franklin entered the world. Birthed after fourteen other siblings, Franklin's family structure is only one deciding factor in the way that this legendary tale pans out. A hero of American Revolution, this novel depicts 18th century realism accurately while logging Franklin's personal conception on human nature and social community. Many look at Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography as your typical rags to riches tale yet, the truth and falsehood throughout the pages is unknown, raising many questions and concerns. As this book was written in segments over a stretched period of time, we must analyze this account of his life, the struggles and successes which took place, and the outcome of such

Next, I made a commitment to nurture and treat myself more often. I’ve learned to forgive myself for my mistakes because those mistakes do not define who I

The impossible search for perfection isn't a new concept for society, especially Americans. Stemming from our founding fathers to modern day man, and fictional characters of American literature chasing and attaining perfection is a goal that can't be achieved but will chased to all ends. Over the course of the second semester our class has studied the writings and philosophies of great American authors which include, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Benjamin Franklin, and Horatio Alger to name a few. F. Scott Fitzgerald creates the perfect American character in Jay Gatz or the “Great Gatsby” and portrays him as a man who is searching for perfection but falls short as do the rest of Americans. Ironically millions have read the riveting novel and have grasped the concept that perfection is unattainable but still try to attain it. The sooner it's realized that the concept of a perfect man doesn't exist society will be able to work on its weakness’ and improve all together. Even one of the Founding Fathers Benjamin Franklin, sought to achieve moral perfection but came to the conclusion that it didn't exist. Franklin planned to become morally perfect over thirteen weeks practicing a single virtue each week and kept track of his results in a small leaflet. Every Time he made a mistake he marked his leaflet which showed his imperfections. Instead of emulating the 13 week experiment Franklin carried out I decided to only take a segment out of it and perform the single virtue of

As well as there is people who believe perfection is not attainable, there is also people who believe that it is possible to reach that, when they give everything they have. It is a much divided opinion, which will perhaps never come to one only general conclusion. To succeed in life people must always work hard and sometimes sacrifice some things they think are important, but putting them in front of another type of situations they would not be taken as a priority. The majority of these people who believe in perfection

In the past few weeks, I have attempted to exercise at least 5 times a week, challenge myself by eating more fruits and veggies, drinking more water, eating more superfoods, and getting at least 8 hours of sleep at night. I also worked on overall improving my own wellness with more meditation, winding down at night before sleeping, and dumping the processed, unhealthy foods. At the beginning, I thought this would be simple, but as days passed, I soon realized how unhealthy my usual lifestyle is and how much better I was feeling focusing more on my health. From running a mile around the neighborhood to sleeping more at night, I saw an improvement physically and mentally.

Just to think about self care can be a task in itself. I never really thought it about it, to be honest, but it is an essential part of living. We get so busy and caught up living in our everyday lives that we forget about the most important part, ourselves. I have two young kids ages 3 and 5, so my focus is always to take care of them and make sure their needs are met, forgetting about myself along the way. I think this assignment will help me to appreciate and not take for granted the things that I know I need to do for myself and to show love to the most important person, me.