1-Conflicted Ben! (Final)

When I compared the list of "virtues," anecdotes, and the personal ideals Benjamin Franklin stated in his autobiography, I found several conflicting ideals.

One of those contradictions centered around his appetite. Being one boy among 12 siblings, all born into poverty, Franklin stated that in his youth he took "little to no notice was taken of what related to the victuals on the table...those matters as to be quite indifferent what kind of food was set before me." (347) However, at the age of 16 after reading a book "recommending a Vegetable Diet," Franklin began "refusing to eat flesh." (351) ) His refusal only lasted until he "reasoned" himself into eating meat once again, a revolving pattern he continued throughout his life.
Franklin also displayed contradicting attitudes toward money, claiming himself frugal, and then loaning out what little money he had to people that he knew could not repay. Franklin declares himself frugal; he even named "Frugality" in his list of "Thirteen Names of Virtues," yet when a friend asked to borrow money he loaned it to him without question.

"Chastity," meaning abstention form unlawful intercourse, was also on Franklin's on list of "Virtues." Not surprisingly, chastity, like so many others, was a broken virtue. During a visit with a lady named Mrs. T., also his friend's companion, Franklin "attempted familiarities which she repuls'd." (371) Later, his friendship with Mrs. T's companion ended, and Franklin could do nothing but proclaim it an "Errata" in the story of his life.

The final contradiction (yet another "Errata" in his life) was Franklin's ever changing thoughts on religion. In Philadelphia, while under the apprenticeship of his brother, Franklin wrote articles expressing his "indescrete disputations about religion." (352) In turn, people began to identify him as an Atheist. A couple paragraphs later, Franklin addresses God, thanks God for his attributes, donates significant contributions to churches in his area, quotes frequently from the Bible, and believes that to "imitate Jesus" was a desirable virtue.

In the end, although he claims he merely has "Floppy Morals," (387) I believe Ben Franklin has a deeply contradictory nature.