Here is an explanation of a self-examination quest I am starting, I am looking for others to join my quest.

I am not sure when I first heard that Benjamin Franklin created a journey of self-examination when he was in his 20’s but I recently read a story about it, refreshing my memory. Most folks know old Ben for his kite flying activities and for being a founding father. As a matter of fact, he stands alone as the only person to have signed all four of the documents which helped to create the United States of America. He signed the Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Alliance, Amity and Commerce with France. He also signed the Treaty of Peace between England, France, and the United States and the big one, the United States Constitution. He was a scientist, a philosopher, a realist, a true American. He started the current postal system, the first fire company in Philly and the first fire insurance company among other foundational supports that live on to this day in our country.

Anyway back to this test of virtues, there are 13 in his journey and he spent his life tracking each. The 13 are not all that different than other religious virtues, probably because our country is a Christian country. As much as we try to suppress that fact, we are a country based in Christianity. So I got to wondering if these virtues would still be relevant in 2011. There is much more knowledge available today then back at the birth of our country – would or could it work in today’s world? What other comparisons could be made, what other virtues could be added without taking away from his intentions? Would it be possible to use his 13 and add some others, some from different religious faiths? Could some principles from Islam or Confucianism be rolled into this exercise and still hold the same meaning it meant for Ben way back then and better yet could it still apply to the whole human race?

That is exactly what I am going to attempt. I am going to work the list of 13 virtues that Mr. Franklin created and I hope to show the relevant pointers from other religious orders. Hopefully, in some miniscule way, this can shed light on that fact that we are all the same and we all “mean” to be doing the same things, the “right” things. We may mean to do the “right” things, but in reality doing the right thing is never as easy to do as it is to talk about doing. Aside from that I want to test my own mettle with regards to doing the right thing.

Here is Ben’s original list:

Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.
Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.
Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.
Industry: Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.
Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly
Justice: Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty
Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation
Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring
Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable
Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates

So there are the 13, along with the brief description that he assigned to them. My first exercise will be to see if I can meld others into that list, subcategories if you will, at that point I am going to investigate whether any others could be or need to added on their own right and why. Not that I want to take ANYTHING away from him or his list but I want to create my own list and work from it.

Now some will call me a fool and call Benjamin a hypocrite, he was a heavy drinker and womanizer so how could he pretend to be virtuous? Well I will let you in a secret, none among us perfect and none among us will attain perfection. Knowing, and understanding, that kernel of information is what makes my life make sense to me. I am not perfect and will never be perfect BUT that does not mean that I can’t learn something from the attempt. And that kernel of information is another cornerstone of my life. I do not know everything and I will continue to learn from everyday events until I stop sucking air. I pray that I never get so jaded to think that I have all, or any, of the answers – to anything.

When I look around today I wonder what has happened to the belief in the virtues on Ben’s list, or the list I will compile in this process. Especially in the lives of public officials, I wonder what has happened? Ben Franklin would roll over in his grave if he were to witness the level of apathy (with regards to virtuous actions) that is rampant today. When our weak minded leaders have to “settle” for what they could get passed instead of what is right (not right in the political sense), it is a shame and I am embarrassed at times at the pettiness of the games they play. It makes me wonder where along the line things went off the rails, it matters little now since we are WAY OFF the rails but it might be interesting to see when it started.

So there is my initial list and challenge, I am looking for friends to join me on this journey. Friends to first assist me with reviewing the 13 virtues that Benjamin Franklin originally created and determine if that list needs modified, and why. Next I am looking for friends to join me on spending a week or two grading ourselves on each of the virtues from the list. This has to be an honest evaluation of ourselves, whether you share with me or others is not important, that you are honest with yourself is the point of this exercise. I plan on writing about the review of Ben’s list, the final list and then spend some time writing about my experiences while taking this trip of self-examination.