Final answer:
Franklin believed virtues were cultivated through habit and were essential to personal success and a virtuous republic, but he overlooked systemic factors like inheritance. Virtue, both personal and civic, is fundamental to maintaining liberty and societal happiness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Benjamin Franklin believed that the practice of virtue would lead to personal and communal success. He posited that such practice was fundamental to a virtuous republic. Franklin's list of virtues includes temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. These virtues, according to Franklin, come not naturally but are developed through habitual practice. However, Franklin largely ignored the impact of systemic factors and inherited privilege. In the case where children inherit great wealth, it is likely that Franklin would suggest they still practice these virtues to ensure personal development and contribute to societal well-being. His values and emphasis on hard work and ethical behavior contribute to the American ethos and the concept of republican virtue, which insists that a successful democratic society depends on the moral character of its citizens.
Aristotle also emphasized that virtue is developed through habit, not inherently present from birth. Similarly, founders like George Mason insisted that personal virtues and civic values are essential for maintaining liberty and the happiness of society. Political philosophers have debated the limits of virtue, pondering if one can be too brave or too humble. Ultimately, the development of virtue was seen as the remedy against social ills and critical to the survival of a free republic.