Ben Franklin's Guide to a Long and Useful Life with Eric Weiner
Jun 12, 2024
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Author Eric Weiner discusses Ben Franklin's guide to virtue, the importance of intellectual humility, the philosophy of gratitude, and practical ways to become wiser in daily life. The episode highlights Franklin's impact and legacy of gratitude and usefulness, along with insights on adapting books for TV series and applying wisdom in daily decision-making.
Franklin's pursuit of virtue through 13 core principles for character development.
The importance of intellectual humility in reassessing beliefs and embracing personal growth.
Deep dives
Benjamin Franklin's Global Influence
Benjamin Franklin's global influence, particularly through the circulation of hundred dollar bills outside the U.S., inspired Eric Weiner to explore Franklin's concepts of wisdom beyond politics and electricity. Franklin's belief in extraterrestrial life rekindled Weiner's interest. The discovery of Franklin's thoughts on wisdom paved the way for Weiner's engaging book, Ben and Me, bringing fresh insights about Franklin's multidimensional character.
Franklin's 13 Virtues Experiment
At 23, Franklin devised a list of 13 virtues to improve his character, targeting one each week. Despite his initial confidence, Franklin found himself falling short and called his tracking book a 'holy book.' This endeavor, termed 'striving for moral perfection,' challenges modern notions about pursuing excellence and character development.
Humility and Intellectual Evolution
Franklin added humility as the 13th virtue after a friend's suggestion, showcasing his willingness to reevaluate convictions. His blend of self-confidence and self-doubt demonstrated a pragmatic approach to intellectual growth. Franklin's evolution on issues like slavery reflected a rare mix of confidence and openness to change, a trait much needed in contemporary society.
Gratitude and Usefulness
Gratitude played a significant role in Franklin's life, with an implicit understanding of one's limitations and blessings. Franklin's focus on usefulness, beyond personal happiness, underscored his pragmatic philosophy. By prioritizing utility over sheer joy, Franklin encouraged a mindset of being beneficial to others, fostering a sense of fulfillment and meaningful contribution.
In this episode of In Search of Wisdom, my guest is Eric Weiner, author of the new book Ben & Me: In Search of a Founder's Formula for a Long and Useful Life. Eric is an award-winning journalist, bestselling author, and speaker. He’s a previous guest on the show; we discussed his book The Socrates Expressin our last conversation. I’m incredibly grateful to have Eric back on the show; I consider anything Eric writes a must-read. As you’ll hear in the episode, he has the rare gift of making the search for wisdom both practical and entertaining!