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Should we be practical or follow our dreams?

Pragmatism Debate: Benjamin Franklin and Don Quixote clash on whether wisdom lies in practicality or noble aspiration.

Debaters:Benjamin FranklinDon QuixoteModerated by Stella Sharpe

Penn6

Welcome to this Pragmatism debate. Our central question: "Should we be practical or follow our dreams?" Benjamin Franklin, you've said "A dream without a plan is just a wish" — but I want specifics. Give us an example from your own experience where this principle was tested.

Benjamin Franklin

Indeed, I recall when I first arrived in Philadelphia, a penniless runaway. My dream was to establish myself as a successful printer and contribute to the public good. However, without a plan, it would have remained a mere fancy. I quickly sought work, improved my skills, and diligently saved my earnings. It was not enough to wish for success; I had to actively pursue it with industry and frugality.

Don Quixote

Hark, fair maiden Sharpe, and worthy Franklin! To speak of dreams as mere fancies without action is to misunderstand the very essence of a knight-errant's purpose. It is true, I have charged at windmills, mistaking them for vile giants, and perhaps, to the untrained eye, this seems folly. But I say, is it not a grander thing to strive for an ideal, even if it seems unattainable, than to settle for a life devoid of chivalrous ambition? Franklin speaks of industry and frugality. These are fine qualities for a merchant, but a knight must concern himself with higher pursuits – justice, honor, and the protection of the innocent, even if it means sacrificing worldly comforts and facing ridicule. For what is life without a noble quest, a Dulcinea to inspire our deeds, and the unwavering belief that even windmills can be conquered with enough courage and conviction?

Penn6

A penniless runaway dreaming of the "public good" — that's quite the ambition, Benjamin Franklin. So, it wasn't enough to *dream* of being a printer, you say? What *specific* sacrifices did that dream demand? Don Quixote, does this resonate with you? Is tilting at windmills purely impractical, or is there a method to the madness?

Don Quixote

Fair maiden Sharpe, your query strikes at the heart of the matter! To tilt at windmills, as you call it, is not madness, but a defiance of a world that has lost its way. It is a declaration that even the most mundane object can be a symbol of a greater struggle, a reminder that giants and enchanters still lurk in the shadows, waiting to prey on the innocent. The sacrifice, you ask? It is the willingness to endure ridicule, to be branded a fool, to suffer setbacks and bruises in the pursuit of a noble cause. It is to choose the path of honor, even when it leads to hardship and pain. For what is practicality but a surrender to the commonplace, a denial of the heroic spirit that dwells within us all? So, let us tilt at windmills, not for the sake of victory, but for the sake of the quest itself!

Benjamin Franklin

That's a fair question. While Don Quixote speaks of noble quests, I must remind us that even the grandest ambitions require a foundation. In my own case, becoming a printer necessitated many sacrifices. I curtailed my appetite for pleasure, avoided frivolous amusements, and devoted myself to diligent labor. These were not mere inconveniences, but conscious choices to forgo immediate gratification for long-term gain. One must be able to eat before embarking on any great adventure.

Penn6

That's a telling point, Don Quixote. This "willingness to endure ridicule"...is that truly a *sacrifice,* or is it the *point*? Benjamin Franklin, you describe forgoing immediate gratification. But what *specific* pleasures did you deny yourself? I suspect those choices reveal more than mere practicality. They hint at the kind of man you wished to become. Did you ever feel you sacrificed *too* much on the altar of ambition?

Benjamin Franklin

Indeed, I sacrificed many a convivial evening at the tavern, foregoing the pleasure of lively conversation and the warmth of good company. I abstained from purchasing fine clothes and other superficial adornments, preferring instead to invest my earnings in books and the tools of my trade. There were times, I confess, when the allure of leisure and indulgence was strong, but I reminded myself that these were fleeting pleasures, while the rewards of industry and self-improvement were lasting. As for sacrificing too much, perhaps in my youth I was overly zealous, but I believe the habits I cultivated then served me well in the long run. Indeed, to be willing to face ridicule is no mere sacrifice, but a cornerstone of the chivalric life. For how can one champion the downtrodden, challenge injustice, or uphold ideals without inviting the scorn of those who cling to the status quo.

Don Quixote

An astute observation. To face ridicule is not merely a sacrifice, but a trial of courage, a test of one's conviction! As Franklin speaks of denying himself earthly pleasures, I see not deprivation, but a different kind of reward. For the true knight, the greatest pleasure lies not in fine clothes or lively conversation, but in the satisfaction of a deed well done, a wrong righted, a damsel rescued. To be willing to forgo such fleeting joys for the sake of a higher calling is not a sacrifice, but a privilege, a testament to the strength of one's devotion to chivalry!

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