Benjamin Franklin :: American History

Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin has influenced American technology, and indirectly, lifestyles by using his proficiencies and intelligence to conduct numerous experiments, arrive at theories, and produce several inventions. Franklins scientific and analytical mind enabled him to generate galore(postnominal) long lasting achievements which contributed to the development and refinement of modern technology. Few field heroes, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, played a more significant office staff in shaping the American way of life than Franklin. According to Fowler, He personified the ideal of the self-made man, and his rise from obscurity to eminence exemplified the American woolgather (32). Looby adds, The study of Franklins image for the past two centuries heads that his legacy had a characteristic place in American culture (85). It has been felt by many people over the years that there was no United States journeyman as great as Franklin until the time of Thomas A. Edison (Blow 24). Franklins words to a friend in Pennsylvania, Joseph Huey, best explain his attitude non simply toward what he considered his civic duties, but also his investigations as a scientist or philosopher. He made some of the or so famous and certainly the most practical discoveries of his time. For my own part, when I am employed in percentage others, I do not look upon myself as conferring favours, but as paying debts. In my travels, and since my settlement, I have received much graciousness from men, to whom I shall never have any opportunity of making the least direct retrovert . . . I can therefore only return on their fellow men and I can only show my gratitude for these mercies from God, by a readiness to help his other children and my Brethren (Dineen 6). Wright quotes Franklin as saying, As we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, and, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours (19). Franklin summa rizes his attitude toward his inventions by asking the question, What signifies Philosophy that does not apply to some use? (Fleming 21). Another time Franklin is quoted as saying, value is in my opinion the test of value in matters of invention, and that a uncovering which can be applied to no use, or is not darling for something is good for nothing (Burlingame 39). Franklin never claimed a penny for any of his inventions, devices or experiments. He even distributed detailed plans of some of his inventions so that anyone could own them.