The Political Philosophy of Benjamin Franklin

INDEX

Abraham (patriarch), 198, 206 Abraham, Father, 88–89 academy, 19, 105–111, 179, 207, 241n30 accounting, 108–9 acquisition and acquisitiveness, 15–19, 24, 27–28, 46, 215, 229n30 Adams, John, 159, 160, 206, 249n71 Addison, Joseph, 110 “Advice to a Young Tradesman,” 16–17, 19 Africa, 180, 182–83 African Americans, 47–48, 181–84 afterlife: BF’s hopes and doubts about, 58–59, 194, 205–7, 210, 212–14, 236n22; and essence of religion, 200–201; as support for virtue, 188, 216 agriculture: and civic virtue, 15, 49–51, 227n1; and mercantilism, 31–32; and personal independence , 21, 47, 49; praise of, 35; study of, 110–11; and trade, 37 Albany Plan of Union, 129–33, 141, 148, 171, 173, 245n18 Aldridge, Alfred Owen, 257n34, 258n45 Alexander the Great, 42, 116, 232n82 “Alice Addertongue,” 239n62 ambition, 91–94, 110, 125, 174 Anderson, Douglas, 235n19 anger: BF’s, 71, 85–86, 134, 139–40, 147, 156–57, 246n36, 247n43; of God, 185, 195, 197–98, 204, 206–8, 211–13; irrationality of, 13, 51, 71, 85–86, 186, 195, 207–8, 227n19 Angoff, Charles, 225n2, 260n57 Antifederalists, 36, 128 aristocracy: in British Isles, 27, 32, 172, 175; ethos of, 42–43, 116–17; and the family, 95–96; in France, 160–61, 175; and immigration to America, 22, 183; natural, 229n22; virtues of, 73–74, 95–96 Aristophanes, 8, 213, 221–23 Aristotle: on habit, 84; on moneymaking , 15, 35–36; Nicomachean Ethics, 73, 237n36, 239n69; utility of studying, 233n86 “Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion ,” 207–10 Articles of Confederation, 165, 170–71 Art of Virtue, 3, 72–73 atheism, 191, 203–6, 209, 212, 258n41 Athens, 32 Augustine, Saint, 260n59 Autobiography: character of, 3, 5, 46, 65, 70–71, 79, 81, 92, 97; edition , ix ax: allegory about speckled, 77–78; forgery about, 196–97 Babel, 213 backbiting, 79–80, 99 Bacon, Francis, 43–44, 220 Bailyn, Bernard, 250n81 Baltzell, Digby, 234n3 Beard, Charles, 253n103 Becker, Carl, 43, 226 265 INDEX Bemis, Samuel Flagg, 249n71, 249n74, 250n76, 250n82, 250n83, 251n87 benevolence: of BF, 68, 81, 112, 123, 127–28; divine, 58, 63–64, 196; duty of, 72, 110–11; mixed character of, 88; natural inclination to, 62–64; satisfactions of, 92–93, 161 benevolent projects. See philanthropic projects Berns, Walter, 259n54 Bible: authority of, 113–14; on charity, 72–73; in education, 107, 109; forgeries of, 196–98; interpretation of, 256n22; in test oaths, 203–4; on virtue, 189, 197 Bible, references to: Job, 219, 260n55; Judges, 114; Sermon on the Mount, 189 Boccarorra, 183 Braddock, Edward, 123 Bradford, William, 71 Brands, H. W., 226n10 Brandt, Irving, 252–53n96 Bridenbaugh, Carl and Jessica, 234n3 Brillon, Madame, 69–70, 199, 201 Britain: constitution of, 148–55, 172; Lords of Trade, 129; opinion in, 33, 138–39; peace treaty with, 155–56, 164, 167; pride of, 136, 139; trade policy of, 25, 31–34, 36, 51, 153; U.S. rivalry with, 161. See also British Empire; England; king of Britian; Parliament British Empire: BF’s view of, 130–31, 136–37, 145–57, 168; interests of, 32, 34; structure of, 148–55 Burke, Edmund, 155 Buxbaum, Melvin, 256n14 Caesar, Julius, 116, 232n82 cake shop, life compared to, 219 Calvinism, 18, 194, 199, 238n54, 258n37 Campbell, James, 236n22 Canada, 155, 158, 167–69 Cape Breton Island, 189 capitalism, 16–18, 29, 39, 215, 223 Caribbean, 166, 185 Carnegie, Andrew, 47 Carolinas, 135 Carr, William, 252–53n96 Carthaginians, 145 Catholicism, 168, 189, 191, 199–200, 204, 258n41 Catholic recluse, example of a, 75, 195, 220 “Cato,” letters of, 7 “Cecelia Single,” 104 charity: appeals to, 122, 190; dangers of, 39–40, 72–73, 184, 196; unreliability of, 11 Charles I of England, 150 Charles XII of Sweden, 232n82 chastity, 68–70, 217 Chatham, Earl of (William Pitt), 154–55, 173 checks and balances, 173, 175–76 China, 135 china bowl, 25 Christianity: BF’s critique of, 10, 31, 39, 54–60, 72–73, 75, 80–81, 180–81, 193–98; and charity, 39, 72–73; in education, 107; Machiavelli on, 10; and savages, 180–81; and toleration, 199–204; virtues of, 72, 74, 237n36. See also Catholicism; Protestants Cicero, 93 city watch, 9, 105 civility, 22, 51, 89 civilization, 26–29, 40, 179–81 cleanliness, 68 Clemens, Samuel, 233n92 Collins, Anthony, 55 Collins, John, 60 Index 266 colonies: assemblies of, 132, 138, 152; charters of, 150–51; governors...