(no subject)
That Benjamin Franklin autobiography is a real pain in the ass. We were discussing it in class and we got to the point about how Mr. Franklin mentioned that he didn't need commandments or a god to tell him how to live well; that they were obvious:
Revelation had indeed no weight with me as such; but I entertain'd an Opinion, that tho' certain Actions might not be bad because they were forbidden by it [religion], or good because it commanded them; yet probably those Actions might be forbidden because they were bad for us, or commanded because they were beneficial to us, in their own Natures, all the Curcumstances of things considered. And this Persuasion, with the kind hand of Providence, or some guardian Angel, or accidental favorable Circumstances and Situations, or all together, preserved me (thro' this dangerous Time of Youth and the hazardous Situations I was sometimes in among Strangers, remote from the Eye and Advice of my Father) without any willful gross Immorality or Injustice that might have been expected from my Want of Religion.
The teacher told us to think about whether or not that was presumptuous. Now, I'm of the opinion that it isn't. A lot of people live out good lives without a god or doctrine to tell them how. But it seemed that the rest of the class didn't share my opinion. We didn't talk about it too much, as we got our papers back right then, but I was interested to hear other people's opinions on the matter. So, I'm asking you guys. What do you think? Is Ben Franklin pompous to assume that he can come up with his own moral code, without the aid of a religion or religious doctrine?
Revelation had indeed no weight with me as such; but I entertain'd an Opinion, that tho' certain Actions might not be bad because they were forbidden by it [religion], or good because it commanded them; yet probably those Actions might be forbidden because they were bad for us, or commanded because they were beneficial to us, in their own Natures, all the Curcumstances of things considered. And this Persuasion, with the kind hand of Providence, or some guardian Angel, or accidental favorable Circumstances and Situations, or all together, preserved me (thro' this dangerous Time of Youth and the hazardous Situations I was sometimes in among Strangers, remote from the Eye and Advice of my Father) without any willful gross Immorality or Injustice that might have been expected from my Want of Religion.
The teacher told us to think about whether or not that was presumptuous. Now, I'm of the opinion that it isn't. A lot of people live out good lives without a god or doctrine to tell them how. But it seemed that the rest of the class didn't share my opinion. We didn't talk about it too much, as we got our papers back right then, but I was interested to hear other people's opinions on the matter. So, I'm asking you guys. What do you think? Is Ben Franklin pompous to assume that he can come up with his own moral code, without the aid of a religion or religious doctrine?