The Benevolent Benjamin Franklin Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Benevolent Benjamin Franklin - Essay ExampleFranklin had to learn at an early age to become an independent studier of academics, since books were quite rare and very expensive in this halt in history, thus setting the entrapation for his motivational prowess found later in life. Because of the said(prenominal) experiences, and many other exposures to diverse citizens in domestic and international society, Franklin began to understand the importance of virtue, character, integrity and the hunting of securing the common welfare. Franklin eventually evolved into a highly-benevolent statesman who genuinely believed in the construction of ethical philosophy and the kindly promotion of self-improvement to better personal character. THE JOURNEY TOWARD SELF-IMPROVEMENT In Franklins autobiography, he unendingly refers to situations that occurred throughout his lifetime that lay the foundation for his views on self-improvement, with considerable emphasis about the importance of divi nity in establishing this principle. In 1756, Franklin was commissioned to take a leading role in the construction of beef up structures for the military to ensure protection against growing Indian enemy threat. During these months, involving very difficult labor, Franklin witnessed what he referred to as contemptible management policy for workers (Eliot, 140), who had been charged with using axes and shovels to dig trenches and process lumber for fort construction. Franklin found that when men were gainfully employed, they were more jovial and willing to comply with management and laboring direction. During periods where there was limited work available, these same laborers would argue and complain due to these frustrations. The leadership of the fortification construction learns, rather than get it on laborer needs, would simply provide them with trivial grunt work as a means of agreeable the ongoing complaints. Through these observations, Franklin began to recognize the fou ndations of human nature and effective management which is more in-line with contemporary leadership philosophy about establishing relationships and providing satisfaction to laborers to improve productivity and commitment. Franklin seemed to recognize the imperative of searching for opportunities for self-improvement in terms of providing for the social and tangible welfare of others through these experiences. During this construction phase in Franklins life, he provides an example of where these realizations became apparent when discussing a lack of commitment by the aforementioned laborers for attending petitioner services. Franklin offers to the project chaplain regarding the use of rum provisions as an incentive for regular and timely attendance of these services It is, perhaps, beneath the dignity of your profession to act as steward of the rum, but if you were to deal it out and only still after prayers, you would have them all about you. (Eliot, 141). Franklin believed th at the volume of promises for incentive-based alcohol was not meeting with expected results for prayer attendance, since men inherently have gluttonous attitudes (this was apparent during periods where laborers were argumentative and dissatisfied). Franklin recognized that men required seek self-improvement and that it is not always beneficial to provide abundance until the individual has sought emotional acquaintance and self-reflection to monitor and control behaviors. Even though Franklin