7 Great Virtues - 2031 Words

Summer Peterson 12-13-06 Hour 3 7 Great Virtues - Ben Franklin - The first virtue Ben Franklin wanted was â€Å"An Aversion to Tyranny†. The main idea of this to Ben is that he doesn’t like tyranny, which is power or control of one person. He didn’t like to be told what to do to and he also liked some control and therefore, have a limited government. Ben didn’t want any dictatorship either, which meant no kings or queens. Franklin realized that he didn’t like the idea of tyranny when he was 12 years old. He became an apprentice at the print shop of his older brother, James, who tended to be a tougher boss. I think that Aversion to Tyranny definitely still exists in America today. We still do not have any dictatorship in today’s†¦show more content†¦The fifth virtue Ben Franklin put on the list of America’s virtues was â€Å"Idealism in Foreign Policy†. Franklin once wrote, â€Å"The influence of every power is measured by the opinion one has of its intrinsic force.† W hen he went to Paris as an envoy during the Revolution, Franklin proved himself a master of the diplomatic doctrine of realism by playing an adroit balance-of-power game between France, Spain, the Netherlands, and later on, Britain. The main idea of this virtue, as I see it, is that Franklin basically tried to portray each country’s position as desirable to him. In a way, this virtue still exists in America today. The only thing I can think of for this virtue in today’s world is Iraq. Even though it isn’t ideal to be at war with a country, we do our best to fight against them and eventually hopefully end the war and win it. The sixth virtue Ben Franklin wanted was â€Å"Compromise†. Franklin used the phrase, â€Å"Both sides must part with some of their demands,† many times. He used it the most when the Constitutional Convention was deciding on the issue of whether the new Congress should be proportioned by population or have equal votes for e ach state. For Franklin, who personally believed in proportional representation, compromise was not only a practical approach but also a moral one. He believed thatShow MoreRelatedAn Unethical Deprivation Of The Highest Good985 Words   |  4 Pageshave found that happiness is an â€Å"activity of the soul in accord with virtue,† namely the â€Å"best and most complete virtue† (I.7, p.9). Virtue is excellence of a function. Since the ability to reason sets human beings apart from all other living creatures on Earth, whatever constitutes happiness must relate to reasoning. It is clear to see that theoretical study is the fullest human happiness, being the best and most complete virtue (X.7, p.163). 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