The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Lesson Plan

Was Franklin’s great moral project (his longtime commitment to self-betterment) a selfish affair, or does it seem like there was a more philanthropic spirit to his endeavor?

Interpretations should reference Franklin's many achievements. If they are arguing that he was a truly selfless individual, they should identify the variety of services he established or advocated for. Others may argue that he had his own betterment in mind, but that this was an end to the larger means of societal betterment. They might, for example, reference his refusal of the right to patent his stove. They might look to more nuanced information in the text for richer interpretations, including any...