Benjamin Franklin example essay topic

354 words
One of the most creative and influential writers who was also a representative of the Age of Reason would undoubtedly be Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin represented the Age of Reason in so many different ways. Since the Age of Reason was a time of experimenters and thinkers, Franklin was one of the greats. Franklin was such a great experimenter that he was constantly looking for new ways to make things work better and more efficiently. The Age of Reason was the period in time where rationalism, the idea that a human can arrive at truth by reason, reigned supreme and Franklin was indeed a true rationalist of his time. Franklin used his rationalistic train of thought to invent many new things such as an open heating stove, bifocal eyeglasses, and a type of harmonica.

Franklin was focused on improving society and himself. He was so strong on self improvement that he created a table of virtues that he must follow in order to achieve total moral perfection. Franklin once said "tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation" (page 91) which is a clear example of his strong moral thinking and his rationalist views. What also makes Franklin one of the most exceptional people of his time and ours would be that his life is a classic rags to riches story. Franklin came out of poverty and made something of himself by himself.

Franklin did many other things in his life time to improve the world also such as drafting the Declaration of Independence and helping negotiate peace when the Revolution was over. Franklin also negotiated a treaty that brought the French over to the America's side during the war between the New Colonies and Britain. Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac also served as an example of the great thinking done in the Age of Reason. When Benjamin Franklin died in 1790, his death caused international mourning. Franklin was a jack of all trades, filled with many great talents, and without a doubt the representative of the Age of Reason.