Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Journal #13
Overall I did not think the Franklin Virtues Project was all that bad. I think I probably gained more than I lost and it went a lot better than I thought it would. One of the things that I gained from this project that was most valuable was probably communication skills with people from other schools and then video editing skills from making the YouTube video.Being able to communicate for a project with someone not right in front of you is something that I think was very beneficial to practice. This is not a skill that we had to use only in this case, but it is something that can help us out later in life, for example if your job requires it. I would say that video editing skills were good to learn as well. I had never uploaded a video onto YouTube before this project so it was interesting to me to see how it all works. I think this is a useful skill to know because you just never know when this might be something you will lose later done the road. Along with being the video editor, it helped me learn patience. Practicing this was hard, but it was good for me. In a group project, you never know who is going to hold up their end and who is going to ride off of others work. This project taught me to be patient with the other members in my group. Something I think that could be improved is that if someone in your group fails to finish their part of the video, it would not affect the other members in the group's grade. This would make it less stressful for the video editor. I do not think it should be their responsibility to do someone else's work and then they get the credit for what you did. I would also say that the other class at Farmington should not have a blocked email so it is easier to keep in contact with them.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Analysis of Franklin's Virtues & Success
Benjamin Franklin was a very rational man whose logic and reasoning skills were unmistakable in his thirteen virtues. He created and followed these in a serious manner. Success is defined as "the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors " ("Success"). In this case, Franklin was attempting to become a better person and based off this definition, he was indeed successful. He accomplished this by creating the virtues specifically off of his personal opinion, using a scientific approach and procedure, and then keeping himself accountable and consistent.
The first step Franklin took towards success was making sure that his virtues lined up with what he specifically believed would benefit not only him, but anyone who attempted. He had attended public sermons where they explained their own virtues, but Franklin did not necessarily agree with them all. He then took matters into his own hands and decided to make his own (Franklin). His virtues included what he believed to be the basic essentials for a human being. He made these not only applicable to himself, but also diplomatic in the way that they would not challenge the consensus of people's beliefs during this time period. By writing these virtues from his own opinion, they were personable. He was therefore able to easily relate to the virtues and set himself up for success.
Along with having a personal relationship with the virtues, his scientific approach aided Franklin in his success as well. Being a rational man, Franklin put much thought into the process in which he would execute his goal of living out all thirteen virtues. He used the scientific method to plan his schedule in which to attempt the given virtue, as well as record and analyze his results. In Tuckerman's criticism of Franklin's character, he shares how he also believes science was a key to Franklin's success saying, "But while official duty and patriotism gave Franklin occasion to propagate and actualize so many useful and requisite principles,—to become the thinker and advocate,—the incarnated common-sense of his country and his time,—there was another sphere of mental activity, another range of sagacious enterprise, in which he expatiated with kindred success" (Bloom 2). Science allowed Franklin to organize his ideas and procedure to reach his goal.
Lastly, after succeeding in following his set thirteen, he then followed up with his success by keeping himself accountable. Franklin did this by not throwing away his book that tracked his attempts to follow the virtues, but instead keeping it as a reminder for himself. Franklin's Autobiography talks about how he always kept in on him. This way, even though he was not recording his results every day, he still had it available to pull out when he felt that he was slipping (Franklin). By being accountable for his actions, Franklin was able to maintain consistent success in becoming a better person.
Overall, Franklin's steps led him all the way to success. By taking the time to make his goal personable, he made it easier for him to relate and be motivated. By using science, he could collect his ideas and procedures to keep him on track. By staying accountable, his success in becoming a better person was not short lived. Along with Franklin's thirteen virtues, his process of successfully mastering them can be applicable as well. Following his example, one may also achieve success.
The first step Franklin took towards success was making sure that his virtues lined up with what he specifically believed would benefit not only him, but anyone who attempted. He had attended public sermons where they explained their own virtues, but Franklin did not necessarily agree with them all. He then took matters into his own hands and decided to make his own (Franklin). His virtues included what he believed to be the basic essentials for a human being. He made these not only applicable to himself, but also diplomatic in the way that they would not challenge the consensus of people's beliefs during this time period. By writing these virtues from his own opinion, they were personable. He was therefore able to easily relate to the virtues and set himself up for success.
Along with having a personal relationship with the virtues, his scientific approach aided Franklin in his success as well. Being a rational man, Franklin put much thought into the process in which he would execute his goal of living out all thirteen virtues. He used the scientific method to plan his schedule in which to attempt the given virtue, as well as record and analyze his results. In Tuckerman's criticism of Franklin's character, he shares how he also believes science was a key to Franklin's success saying, "But while official duty and patriotism gave Franklin occasion to propagate and actualize so many useful and requisite principles,—to become the thinker and advocate,—the incarnated common-sense of his country and his time,—there was another sphere of mental activity, another range of sagacious enterprise, in which he expatiated with kindred success" (Bloom 2). Science allowed Franklin to organize his ideas and procedure to reach his goal.
Lastly, after succeeding in following his set thirteen, he then followed up with his success by keeping himself accountable. Franklin did this by not throwing away his book that tracked his attempts to follow the virtues, but instead keeping it as a reminder for himself. Franklin's Autobiography talks about how he always kept in on him. This way, even though he was not recording his results every day, he still had it available to pull out when he felt that he was slipping (Franklin). By being accountable for his actions, Franklin was able to maintain consistent success in becoming a better person.
Overall, Franklin's steps led him all the way to success. By taking the time to make his goal personable, he made it easier for him to relate and be motivated. By using science, he could collect his ideas and procedures to keep him on track. By staying accountable, his success in becoming a better person was not short lived. Along with Franklin's thirteen virtues, his process of successfully mastering them can be applicable as well. Following his example, one may also achieve success.
Bloom, Harold, ed. "The Character of Franklin." BenjaminFranklin, Classic Critical Views. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online.Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=&iPin=C C VBF019&SingleRecord=True (accessed October 29, 2012).
Bloom, Harold, ed. "The Character of Franklin." BenjaminFranklin, Classic Critical Views. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online.Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=&iPin=C C VBF019&SingleRecord=True (accessed October 29, 2012).
Franklin, Benjamin, Dixon Wecter, Larzer Ziff, and Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1959. Print.
"Success." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/success>.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Journal #12
I think today's American Dream would have to do with living your own life. America is one of the few countries where for the most part, you can express yourself freely and live how you choose. You have to live with the consequences but they are your own decisions to make. Some of these freedoms include the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion. This was one of the main reasons people came to America in the first place. Another aspect of the American Dream I think would definitely be free market. The opportunity to own and profit off your own business is a huge plus. I think people associate the American Dream with being successful in whatever business you decide on and being able to provide for yourself and your family. Today, I think being considered successful is highly influenced by how much money you make.I personally think this is not necessarily true, but that's just how our society sees it. You can be successful in more ways that money though. Maybe you have a successful family or a job that you love even if it is not the most high-paying. I think our definition of success today has been kind of rewritten to only what the majority of society considers successful. The pursuit of happiness is considered one of our God given rights according to the Declaration of Independence. I think being happy in America is simply living your own life with your own choices. I don't think there is a strict definition of happy in America like success because everyone is different. People are happy for many reasons. It could be because of their family, their home, their relationships, their job, their wealth, their faith, and so much more. I think it is people's right to do what makes them happy, but if it means breaking the law to do so, than its their choice and responsibility to live with the consequences.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Literary Anylsis: Franklin's system of virtues
Benjamin Franklin's set of virtues were very impressive and exemplifies the rationalism well. Rationalism is really focused on facts. Unlike the other types of writing we have read like the Puritan's writings, this type does not evolve God as much. With the Puritans writings, they referenced and backed up their points with God and Scripture, while with rationalism the authors supports his statements with facts and examples. Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography shared very similar themes with the rationalism style.
One of the first relations Franklin's autobiography has with rationalism is that they both deal with Deity. Benjamin talks about how he does believe in God and that there is a Creator. However, he is not nearly as involved as the Puritans are. He was raised as a Presbyterian so he had his own views. This deism though is what brought him to church where they talked about the virtues they thought to be valuable. Benjamin Franklin respected these virtues but did not agree with them full-heartily. In reaction to this, he wrote his own system of virtues.
The main reason we can relate Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography to rationalism is because it based off of facts. Benjamin even says towards the beginning of his writing how he believed in facts. "My conduct might be blamable, but I leave it, without attempting further to excuse it; my present purpose being to relate facts, and not to make apologies for them" (Franklin, 82). Benjamin Franklin's virtues include the following: temperance, silence, order resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. (Franklin, 83 & 84) The order for his system of virtues is no coincidence. He wrote them in the way that he would personally be able to master one, which would then prepare him for the next. This way, he will be able to continue to master the list easier without breaking some of the earlier ones. After listing his system of virtues, he then goes on to explain the reasoning for this order in more detail. This is very factual and personal for him which goes along with the factual ideas of rationalism. An example of this might his first virtue, which is temperance. He picked this one to be first because it would clear his mind which is vital to his process and will keep him from distractions. After he mastered this virtue he moved onto silence, which he said was much easier acquire after mastering temperance. He continues to go on to his other virtues using the same idea.
Franklin's process for keeping himself accountable to his system of virtues was also very factual. It involved a chart where he would mark every virtue he broke that day. He was surprised at first with the amount of dots on the page, but found satisfaction as the dots started to diminish as time went on. He also created a schedule which also helped him stay accountable.
Overall, Benjamin Franklin's autobiography and rationalism share the main ideas. His process and way of thinking is very factual just like rationalism. Along with his idea of deism, they two compare very similar to each other.
One of the first relations Franklin's autobiography has with rationalism is that they both deal with Deity. Benjamin talks about how he does believe in God and that there is a Creator. However, he is not nearly as involved as the Puritans are. He was raised as a Presbyterian so he had his own views. This deism though is what brought him to church where they talked about the virtues they thought to be valuable. Benjamin Franklin respected these virtues but did not agree with them full-heartily. In reaction to this, he wrote his own system of virtues.
The main reason we can relate Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography to rationalism is because it based off of facts. Benjamin even says towards the beginning of his writing how he believed in facts. "My conduct might be blamable, but I leave it, without attempting further to excuse it; my present purpose being to relate facts, and not to make apologies for them" (Franklin, 82). Benjamin Franklin's virtues include the following: temperance, silence, order resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. (Franklin, 83 & 84) The order for his system of virtues is no coincidence. He wrote them in the way that he would personally be able to master one, which would then prepare him for the next. This way, he will be able to continue to master the list easier without breaking some of the earlier ones. After listing his system of virtues, he then goes on to explain the reasoning for this order in more detail. This is very factual and personal for him which goes along with the factual ideas of rationalism. An example of this might his first virtue, which is temperance. He picked this one to be first because it would clear his mind which is vital to his process and will keep him from distractions. After he mastered this virtue he moved onto silence, which he said was much easier acquire after mastering temperance. He continues to go on to his other virtues using the same idea.
Franklin's process for keeping himself accountable to his system of virtues was also very factual. It involved a chart where he would mark every virtue he broke that day. He was surprised at first with the amount of dots on the page, but found satisfaction as the dots started to diminish as time went on. He also created a schedule which also helped him stay accountable.
Overall, Benjamin Franklin's autobiography and rationalism share the main ideas. His process and way of thinking is very factual just like rationalism. Along with his idea of deism, they two compare very similar to each other.
Franklin, Benjamin, Dixon Wecter, Larzer Ziff, and Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1959. Print.
Journal #11
There are several virtues a good person should live by. Instead of listing all of them though, I can summarize it by simply being Christ like. If you do your best to follow His example and live like Jesus did, you will in the process, live a life with great virtues. One of these virtues would be generosity. This is a good quality to have, and something Jesus absolutely valued. He was selfless and never put His needs above others. An example of this would be the feeding of the five-thousand. This is how God wants us to live, unselfishly and not only focused on meeting our own needs, but helping others. Another virtue to live by would be patience. Every day we are faced with obstacles that are going to take time out of day. Whether it is traffic, crazy little kids you are babysitting, a line to the cash register, or waiting for your food to heat up in the microwave, you must have patience. Learning to have patience with the little things like this, will make the more demanding things easier. God demonstrates patience continually in the Bible. An example would be when He tells Moses to go back to Egypt to set His people free. Moses made every excuse in the book, but God was patient with him and showed him he was not alone. Respect is a virtue that is important to have as well. In most cases, when you respect others, they will respect you in return. This can apply to yourself as well. Having self-respect is just as important. How do you except others to respect you, if you do not respect yourself? Respecting your teachers, parents, and class mates is important as well. Getting into this habit will help you later in life when you have a boss and co-workers. Valuing respect is a quality that will never go out of style. All of these virtues are important, but like I said, you can meet all of these in the process of living a Godly lifestyle.
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