Description
Book SynopsisIn his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin presents a plan for moral perfection: a set of thirteen virtues for individuals to cultivate. These virtues are meant to aid in one''s economic and political successes while contributing to the greater social good. Rewarding Virtue questions whether Franklin''s premisethat living virtuously benefits the individual as well as the communitycan be judged by historical experience. In this book each of Franklin''s famous virtues (temperance, order, silence, etc.) are presented in such a way to determine if living by these maxims do result in enhanced wealth or reputation. With a similar utilitarian spirit this book attempts to judge the worthiness of his ideas in the actual human experience. The subjects for this experiment are some of the best-known Americans. Presidents of the United States are assigned a virtue and then thoroughly investigated (i.e. Ulysses S. Grant and temperance, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and tranquility, etc.) By examining the l
Table of ContentsPart 1 Preface Part 2 Acknowledgements Chapter 3 Introduction Chapter 4 Temperance Chapter 5 Silence Chapter 6 Order Chapter 7 Resolution Chapter 8 Frugality Chapter 9 Industry Chapter 10 Sincerity Chapter 11 Justice Chapter 12 Moderation Chapter 13 Cleanliness Chapter 14 Tranquility Chapter 15 Chastity Chapter 16 Humility Part 17 Conclusion Part 18 Selected Bibliography Part 19 Index Part 20 About the Author
