How is the Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin reflect the idea/ideals of the age of reason(rational thoughts)?
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Ben had meetings with people on how to improve themselves, their business and the community. He was one of the founding fathers building in the 3 branches of government, separating power to combat human problems such as corupt kings.\nHe was a greatly admired scientist working with LaVosier in France and debunking mesmerism. \nHumanitatian for giving his invention of the lighting rod without royalties since it benefitted so many. \nHe followed Descartes thoughts that the world was mechanistis. It is not enough to believe. There needs to be test, evidence, theory. A great relief to the wichcraft victums,
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Good person to write about!!  I agree with everyone else's answers; Mark Twain captured life in the 1800s, the human spirit, and he did it with a brilliant sense of humor.  He used a lot of sarcasm, which most people your age can relate to!  Although his books are fictional, they are a great resource for learning about American history- people's accents, slang, and what they did for fun.\n\nGood luck w/ your paper, I'm sure it'll be great!
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"What would happen if people stopped getting elderly"\n\n"If I could read minds"\n\n"What would Thomas Jefferson (or Ben Franklin or Abe Lincoln or whoever) think of today's USA?"
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Do your homework!  \n\nHe was a great philosopher who influenced the ideals of freedom and responsibilty in the Anglo-American experience.
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When I was watching Bush last night, I had one of those rare moments of detached curiosity. I wasn’t upset, I was more curious in a sociological sense. I found myself asking why exactly I couldn’t believe in what he was saying – what is it about me or my demographic that makes me so utterly incapable of believing in his speech. I’m not talking about his honesty (or lack thereof). I’m talking about the grand abstractions of freedom, duty, country, patriotism that he invoked. Why are these ideas so uncompelling to me? They’re all good things. I probably should find them compelling. But I don’t. It’s not that I’m hostile to these abstract ideas – I just don’t find them intellectually compelling. \n\nI suspect that a good deal of my demographic (young knowledge workers/students) feel the same way. Our generation, you see, is cursed by the tyranny of irony. Or perhaps blessed. I’m not sure. But that’s what I want to talk about today. And oddly enough, I want to offer my theory about how Bush blew his chance after 9/11 to free us from irony, which Michael Stipe (REM singer) once called “the shackles of youth.”
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MEDITATION I.\n\nOF THE THINGS OF WHICH WE MAY DOUBT.\n\n\n1. SEVERAL years have now elapsed since I first became aware that I had accepted, even from my youth, many false opinions for true, and that consequently what I afterward based on such principles was highly doubtful; and from that time I was convinced of the necessity of undertaking once in my life to rid myself of all the opinions I had adopted, and of commencing anew the work of building from the foundation, if I desired to establish a firm and abiding superstructure in the sciences. But as this enterprise appeared to me to be one of great magnitude, I waited until I had attained an age so mature as to leave me no hope that at any stage of life more advanced I should be better able to execute my design. On this account, I have delayed so long that I should henceforth consider I was doing wrong were I still to consume in deliberation any of the time that now remains for action. To-day, then, since I have opportunely freed my mind from all cares [and am happily disturbed by no passions], and since I am in the secure possession of leisure in a peaceable retirement, I will at length apply myself earnestly and freely to the general overthrow of all my former opinions.[L][F]\n\n2. But, to this end, it will not be necessary for me to show that the wholeof these are false--a point, perhaps, which I shall never reach; but as even now my reason convinces me that I ought not the less carefully to withhold belief from what is not entirely certain and indubitable, than from what is manifestly false, it will be sufficient to justify the rejection of the whole if I shall find in each some ground for doubt. Nor for this purpose will it be necessary even to deal with each belief individually, which would be truly an endless labor; but, as the removal from below of the foundation necessarily involves the downfall of the whole edifice, I will at once approach the criticism of the principles on which all my former beliefs rested.[L][F]\n\n3. All that I have, up to this moment, accepted as possessed of the highest truth and certainty, I received either from or through the senses. I observed, however, that these sometimes misled us; and it is the part of prudence not to place absolute confidence in that by which we have even once been deceived.[L][F]\n\n4. But it may be said, perhaps, that, although the senses occasionally mislead us respecting minute objects, and such as are so far removed from us as to be beyond the reach of close observation, there are yet many other of their informations (presentations), of the truth of which it is manifestly impossible to doubt; as for example, that I am in this place, seated by the fire, clothed in a winter dressing gown, that I hold in my hands this piece of paper, with other intimations of the same nature. But how could I deny that I possess these hands and this body, and withal escape being classed with persons in a state of insanity, whose brains are so disordered and clouded by dark bilious vapors as to cause them pertinaciously to assert that they are monarchs when they are in the greatest poverty; or clothed [in gold] and purple when destitute of any covering; or that their head is made of clay, their body of glass, or that they are gourds? I should certainly be not less insane than they, were I to regulate my procedure according to examples so extravagant.[L][F]\n\n5. Though this be true, I must nevertheless here consider that I am a man, and that, consequently, I am in the habit of sleeping, and representing to myself in dreams those same things, or even sometimes others less probable, which the insane think are presented to them in their waking moments. How often have I dreamt that I was in these familiar circumstances, that I was dressed, and occupied this place by the fire, when I was lying undressed in bed? At the present moment, however, I certainly look upon this paper with eyes wide awake; the head which I now move is not asleep; I e
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A friend of mine has been trying to explain rational behavior in terms of evolution and such.  I think you might be interested in reading it.
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that Dr Benjamin Rush the founder of public schools felt that the bible should be the central book of public schools. he wrote.  \n\n    I lament that we waste so much time and money in  punishing crimes and take so little pains to prevent them... we neglect the only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government ; that is, the universal education of our youth in the princeples of Christianity by means of the bible.... equility among mankind... respect for just laws... and sober and frugal virtues.  \n\n  and then there is this statement by President John Adams.\n\n  We have no government armed in power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our Constituation was made only for a relious and moral people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.\n\n  hope this helps. both quotes come from Under God written by Toby Mac and Michael Tait from dctalk
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How one person could make a difference if they stood up for what they believe is right rather than just going along with things.\n\nRead the book, it is very good once you give it a chance
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Not only yes, but it makes you an intelligent one!!\n\nRemember this book was still written by men, not god himself.
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Ben Franklin was one of the founding fathers of the of the United States.\nBen Franklin discovered electricity wa sproduced by lightening with his key on a kite experiment.\nBe Franklin in his youngr years secretly wrote Poor Richards Altmac whic became a best seller of his time.\nFrankin Was very instrumental in getting aid for the American Colonists from France an dothers during the Revolutionary war.\n\nThe   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Franklin   gives this description of  Franklin.                       \nBenjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 [O.S. January 6] – April 17, 1790) was one of the best known Founding Fathers of the United States. He was a leading author, politician, printer, scientist, philosopher, publisher, inventor, civic activist, and diplomat. As a scientist he was a major figure in the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. As a political writer and activist he, more than anyone, invented the idea of an American nation[1], and as a diplomat during the American Revolution, he secured the French alliance that made independence possible.\n\nFranklin was noted for his curiosity, his writings (popular, political and scientific), and his diversity of interests. His wise and scintillating writings are proverbial to this day. As a leader of the Enlightenment, he gained the recognition of scientists and intellectuals across Europe. An agent in London before the Revolution, and Minister to France during it, he more than anyone defined the new nation in the minds of Europe. His success in securing French military and financial aid was the turning point for American victory over Britain. He invented the lightning rod; he was an early proponent of colonial unity; historians hail him as the "First American". The city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania marked Franklin's 300th birthday in January 2006 with a wide array of exhibitions, and events citing Franklin's extraordinary accomplishments throughout his illustrious career.\n\nBorn in Boston, Massachusetts to a devout Anglican tallow-maker, he was baptized at Old South Meeting House. Franklin learned printing from his older brother and became a newspaper editor, printer, and merchant in Philadelphia, becoming very wealthy. He spent many years in England and published the famous Poor Richard's Almanac and the Pennsylvania Gazette. He formed both the first public lending library and fire department in America as well as the Junto, a political discussion club.\n\nHe became a national hero in America when he spearheaded the effort to have Parliament repeal the unpopular Stamp Act. A diplomatic genius, Franklin was almost universally admired among the French as American minister to Paris, and was a major figure in the development of positive Franco-American relations. From 1775 to 1776, Franklin was Postmaster General under the Continental Congress and from 1785 to his death in 1790 was President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania. Towards the end of his life, he became one of the most prominent abolitionists.\n\nFranklin was interested in science and technology, carrying out his famous electricity experiments and inventing, in addition to his very important lightning rod, the Franklin stove, catheter, swimfins, glass harmonica, and bifocals. He also played a major role in establishing the University of Pennsylvania and Franklin and Marshall College. He was elected the first president of the American Philosophical Society Held at Philadelphia for Promoting Useful Knowledge, the oldest learned society in the United States, in 1769. In addition, Franklin was a noted linguist, fluent in five languages. He is typically recognized as a polymath.
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"The rate at which a person can mature is directly proportional to the embarrassment he can tolerate"\n......(by --dont remember)\n\n"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something"\n......Plato \n\n"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world;\nThe unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.\nTherefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man"\n......George Bernard Shaw\n\n"Feel like Christ and you will be a Christ; feel like Buddha and you will be a Buddha. It is feeling that is the life, the strength, the vitality, without which no amount of intellectual activity can reach God"\n......Swami Vivekananda\n\n\nhope u like them........good day
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Ben Franklin has a lot of famous and GOOD quotes etc. research some online.
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yes, for some it is, it would depend on the person..and the motive\nfor some it is the easy satisfaction, for the burning question we all have,,,Why? are we here?\n\nbut we are not alone...here are some others thoughts i thought you might like.\n\n{my fav}\nQuestion with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear. \n—Thomas Jefferson, 1787 \n\nI do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use. \n—Galileo Galilei \n\nMy mind is my own church. \n—Thomas Paine \n\n...this would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it. \n—John Adams\nLetter to Thomas Jefferson, 1816 \n\n\nReligion is the perfect justification for tyranny, because it doesn't require an ounce of reason or a shred of proof. \n—Anonymous\n\nGive a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day. Give him a religion, and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish. \n—Timothy Jones \n\nReligion is all bunk. \n—Thomas A. Edison
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Benjamin Franklin said it best:\n"If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins."
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im guessing this was inspired by me\n\n:) just kidding of course\n\nthough the guy who sells me used batteries on the train seems well versed in the existentialist philiosophies of albert camus "An intellectual is someone whose mind watches itself. "
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"I think therefore I am." Descarte was trying to start from what was indesputable, & procede to the less certain aspects of knowledge.\n\nThe ability to think was to Descarte proof that we actually existed. Descarte was deeply confused. Thinking is one of many things we DO, as well as breath, act, sense, emote, remember, imagine, or meditate. If we stop thinking, what happens? Nothing except our mind grows quiet & somewhat more peaceful for a while. We still are, thinking or not at all. If we stop breathing, we die. Wikijo would have said " I breath, therefore I am." It would have made more sense.\n\nI hope this helps.\n\n;-)