Lo, these many months ...
Where Franklin falls away, like a patriot overseas ...
Can Benjamin Franklin Save You?
Benjamin Franklin promised a path of self-improvement in The Art of Virtue. He never wrote it, but other writers have compiled it. What happens if we try to follow his rules?
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Read 17 hours ago and current, but nothing has been published for 2 years.
Latest episodes
Rung Two thoughts: A new year, old problems
We last caught up with the Franklin Virtues tracking Aug. 23. Today, it's Sept. 16, the Jewish New Year. Where do we stand now?
Rung Five: 'What is most imprudent to be done [people will do it]'
"Motives of personal gain tend to be opposite of one's true self-interest," reads Rogers under Benjamin Franklin's advice. This is the first of two angles on this in the book.
Rung Two thoughts: These ... are the days of our lives
Where do we notice our shortcomings? Reflection shows something. Awareness in the moment of episodes shows another. Here, we'll go with the former.
Rung Two thoughts: Shepherding frugally, Giving generously
The Jewish self-improvement practice of Mussar teaches balance in Generosity between ignoring the impulse to help others out of fear for self ... and giving so much to put you in danger.
Rung Two thoughts: 2 values enter! I value leaves!
Some of these virtues never get dots, never mark significant failures. So, swap ...
Making a Jewish Benjamin Franklin
OK, so I'm Jewish, and there's a centuries-old tradition of religious self-improvement in my religion called Mussar. How does it compare and contrast with Franklin's virtues?
Rung Two thoughts: Tallies
Evaluate all 13 virtues at the end of each day. Mark a dot for any time you think of when you didn't hit the mark. Now ... let's count dots! Why? Because data is fun!
Rung Two thoughts: Another week, another week, and again ...
The irony. This week's virtue would have been "Industry," and I have not done it.
Rung Three thoughts: A Franklin short on religion
Can the religious see eye to eye across doctrinal divides?
Even Franklin didn't do it all the time ...
What do you do when you get busy and the habit growing and virtue focusing fall away?
Rung Four thoughts: Knowing what's what before doing what's right
"Doing the right thing" is complicated. That's not just because doing the right thing may incur costs for you, but because spending time before getting to the truth does, too. But isn't it worth it?
Rung Four: Human beings are poor thinkers
"Correct action is dependent upon correct opinion," writes George L. Rogers in Benjamin Franklin's name. You do something, because you think something.
Rung Two thoughts: I missed two days in a row!
What? No dots in the Franklin chart? And it's the week of "Resolution," focusing on doing what you resolved to do? For shame, Brendan. For shame.
Rung Two thoughts: A month done!
It's been four weeks of using Benjamin Franklin's chart of 13 virtues. What did I mark the most and the least?
Rung Three thoughts: Hope stings infernal
Or heaven, if that's your jam.
Rung Three thoughts: Franklin wrote a prayer book
Franklin said regular church attendance was not his jam, but then, y'know, he wrote his own prayer book because, sure, why not?
Rung Three thoughts: Tolstoy vs. Franklin: Fight!
Neither Benjamin Franklin or Leo Tolstoy are confusing, esoteric, jargon-y explainers of their views on religion. Let's see if their ideas match up ... for fun!
Rung Three: Are you there, God? It's me, Benjamin.
"There is one God who made all things," says George L. Rogers in Benjamin Franklin's name. For the nonreligious, this will be a sticky wicket ...
Rung Two thoughts: A successful week down
It's been almost two weeks of using Benjamin Franklin's chart of 13 virtues. My first virtue passed muster for seven days ...