After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory

by Alasdair MacIntyre

Franklin’s account, like Aristotle’s, is teleological; but unlike Aristotle’s, it is utilitarian. According to Franklin in his Autobiography the virtues are means to an end, but he envisages the means-ends relationship as external rather than internal. The end to which the cultivation of the virtues ministers is happiness, but happiness understood as success, prosperity in Philadelphia and ultimately in heaven. The virtues are to be useful and Franklin’s account continuously stresses utility as a criterion in individual cases: ‘Make no expence but to do good to others or yourself; i.e. waste nothing’, ‘Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation’ and, as we have already seen, ‘Rarely use venery but for health or offspring… ’. When Franklin was in Paris he was horrified by Parisian architecture. ‘Marble, porcelain and gilt are squandered without utility.’