The Political Philosophy of Benjamin Franklin

CONTENTS

CONTENTS Note on Sources ix Acknowledgments xi Introduction 1 The Earliest Franklin Franklin, Socrates, and Modern Rationalism 1 The Economic Basis of Liberty 15 The Weber Critique The Value of Work Work, Acquisitiveness, and Nature A Republican Political Economy The Meaning of Leisure 2 The Virtuous Citizen 49 The Ethos of the Merchant Franklin’s Early Thoughts on Virtue and Vice Franklin’s Retreat from His Early Views The Project for Moral Perfection Humility, Pride, and Vanity The Art of Virtue 3 Philanthropy and Civil Associations 91 Man as a Political Animal Franklin and Tocqueville on Associations Franklin’s Benevolent Projects Democratic Leadership 4 Thoughts on Government 127 The Albany Plan of Union Of Proprietors and Kings Statesmanship and Public Relations Natural Right and Human Opinion vii Representation and Federalism Democratic Diplomacy The Constitutional Convention Immigration, Race, and Slavery 5 The Ultimate Questions 185 Enlightenment and the Adequacy of Reason The Civic Benefits of Religion The Defects of Christianity Toleration and Religious Freedom The Existence of God Eros, Death, and Eternity Notes 225 Recommended Readings 263 Index 265 Contents viii ...