Examined Life

"The unexamined life is not worth living."

- Socrates

It has been said that great books, if they are truly great, change your life. Without any contemplation, I can name two such books.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley inspired me to turn off the television (or at least limit its demand on my time) and pick up productive hobbies.

But no book changed my life quite like the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. It is more than a biography, but a road map to an examined life written by one of the most remarkable people in world history.

I believe that examination of life and the resulting changes in habit lead to happiness and virtue. I do not advocate the substitution of Benjamin Franklin for the chosen religious text of the reader. But there is no source for life view that will not benefit from the road map provided by Mr. Franklin. It is an example of how to be virtuous in our organic world. From his attempt at perfection through 13 daily rules to the examples of an altered life, I present it all to advocate an examined life.

Try to be a better parent, better friend, better sibling, better professional or a better and more honest citizen than you were yesterday.

Anyone who reads the autobiography will see that it was no accident Benjamin Franklin lived one of the most thoroughly successful lives ever (although success comes in all shapes and sizes). He won international fame for his scientific discoveries, donated inventions to public use (rather than profit from the patent), negotiated alliances and peace and accomplished more than I can justly list here. His most impressive quality to me, however, was a willingness to diagnose and treat his own life in ways that added virtue. More so than accomplishing impressive feats, Ben Franklin accomplished in life by doing things the right way. I am more impressed with his use of celebrity to bring the issue of abolishing slavery before the very first US Congress than by his discovery of electricity or his mapping of oceanic currents. I respect that more because it was the right thing to do and the decision was steeped in integrity.

When I revisited the autobiography I discovered that my motivations for this blog were similar to Franklin's motivation for his autobiography. I do not intend to write an autobiography, and I do not bring the stature of a founding father to the discussion, but both of us were motivated by a desire to communicate lessons learned to a son.

Like him, I strive to show my son that anything worth doing is worth doing honestly.

Franklin's book starts with "Dear Son," and includes this explanation:

"I have ever had a pleasure in obtaining any little anecdotes of my ancestors. You may remember the enquiries I made among the remains of my relations when you were with me in England and the journey I undertook for that purpose. Imagining it may be equally agreeable to you to know the circumstances of my life - many of which you are yet unacquainted with - and expecting a week's uninterrupted leisure in my present country retirement, I sit down to write them for you. "

No one is capable of perfection, but anyone can benefit from the steps taken by a man who ventured far closer to it than most others.

THE THIRTEEN VIRTUES

Happiness seems to come from peace of mind. Franklin's 13 virtues assist in obtaining peace of mind.

It is a legendary story that Franklin attempted to fulfill each of these 13 virtues every day and famously kept a checklist for that purpose. However, he acknowledged that the task was impossible and soon gave it up. After all, we are all fallible beings. Although perfection is impossible, idleness regarding virtue will not further happiness. Just like the mathematical formula that always approaches zero without ever touching it, so will we always strive for the unattainable.

For me, anyone who believes that what we do on earth matters must conclude that how we conduct ourselves must also matter. With that in mind, I give you Franklin's 13 virtues (and a few of my comments):

1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation.

2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation. (I add to make it a point to defend those not present or unable to defend themselves.)

3. Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.

4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.

5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself, i.e. waste nothing.

6. Industry: Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions. (Make family time more precious than professional time)

7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9. Moderation: Avoid Extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve. (Hold no grudge)

10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes or habitation.

11. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles or at accidents common or unavoidable. (Bring none of those trifles to bed at night)

12. Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring - never to dullness, weakness or the injury of your own or an other's peace or reputation.

13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates. (Be faithful, but not judgmentally so).

Quite a list. Even Franklin failed famously at some of those. But, given that some failures are to be expected, it is important that a person be mindful of the goal.

I have made my own alterations to this list (beyond just my comments), and I imagine there are as many varieties of lists as there are people based on personality, desires, values, strengths and weaknesses. The important part is to have a list at all. Unfortunately all too few are willing. After all, in Franklin's words "How few there are who have courage enough to own their own faults, or resolution enough to mend them!"

EXAMPLE

My favorite example of an examined life in action came when Franklin, a young man, decided to change his whole approach to argumentation. The story goes that Franklin often found himself and his arguments dismissed because he brought arrogance and stubbornness to the discussion. The book goes through his analysis of himself as he decides to add phrases such as, "you make an interesting point, but have you considered.....?"

Franklin notes that by listening, communicating with respect and softening the blow of a factual or argument correction, he could show his point on the merits. Shouting and pounding on the table, however, served to halt all listening and set the listener to argue against even the most well founded points for the sake of dragon slaying. This is just one small part of life, yet it warranted the attention of Mr. Franklin because it was on his mind.

How a life is examined may be determined by the examiner, so long as the process happens.

The Autobiography is very short. It ends abruptly because Franklin died before its completion. Still, I feel it is important to learn from those who came before us. It goes without saying that I strongly recommend the book to anyone who contemplates the merits of an examined life.