Reflection- Benjamin Franklin: Deism

Benjamin Franklin believed and followed thirteen virtues that definitely represent the philosophies of Deism.  Deism is the rational belief in God, and “a belief in God based on reason rather than revelation and involving the view that God set the universe in motion but does not interfere with how it runs” (Microsoft Word).  Benjamin Franklin’s thirteen virtues were temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility.  In his writing in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, there are many examples that we, as readers, can observe and conclude that his ideas and reactions to his experiences could certainly be an example of the philosophies of Deism.

            I think that one example of a Rationalist idea from Benjamin Franklin in the writing of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin could be when he is discussing his first few days in Philadelphia.  One of the first things that Benjamin Franklin talks about is how there was not a place to buy good books anywhere in the entire area (Franklin 139).  The only way that he, or any others, could get books was by either importing them from Europe (which is what everyone mostly did) or borrowed them from each other (Franklin 139).  The people that Benjamin Franklin associated with in Philadelphia were the ones importing their books and exchanging them with one another. 

“Finding the advantage of this little collection, I proposed to render the benefit from the books more common, by commencing a public subscription uncertain…Not having any copy here of what is already written, I know not whether any account is given of the means I used to establish the Philadelphia library; which from a small beginning is now become so considerable.” (Franklin 139)

In my opinion, Benjamin Franklin’s act of creating the first public library in Philadelphia could be a combination of several of his virtues: order, resolution and industry.  Order means to “let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.”  Resolution means to “resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.”  Industry means “lose not time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.” (Amidst a tangled web.)  Ben’s ideas for the library were practical, which absolutely supports the philosophies of Deism.

            Another example that I found in reading The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin was when Ben was describing how he and his wife were living while he was trying to get the new public library up and running.  He talks about how much his wife had been helping him, and that their lifestyle had to make some sacrifices since money was tight.

“We have an English proverb that says, ‘He that would thrive must ask his wife.’  It was lucky for me that I had one as much disposed to industry and frugality as myself.” (Franklin 143-4)

            It states right in the passage that both of the Franklin’s followed at least two of the thirteen virtues.  They had to buy cheap furniture and Ben Franklin says that he ate breakfast out of a “two-penny earthen porringer, with a pewter spoon” (Franklin 144).  Although his wife was frugal, she surprised her husband with a china bowl and a silver spoon because she was so proud of how hard he had worked.  If love was one of the thirteen virtues, they would be the perfect example.

Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Henry Altemus, 1895. Print.

"Deism." Microsoft Word Dictionary/Thesaurus. Microsoft Corporation, 2006.Software.