Benjamin Franklin: The Joyful Chaos of Polymathic Curiosity
"Energy and persistence conquer all things." —Benjamin Franklin
From the THX Series Hub: Neurodivergence & the Founding of a Nation
Franklin Through a THX Lens
Where Jefferson brought design, Hamilton brought fire, and Adams brought structure—Franklin brought joy. He was the connector, the experimenter, the embodiment of Engagement and Value. Through the THX lens, Franklin lit up multiple Utilities: Emotion Evoked, Access, Ease of Use, and Meaning.
He invited others in. He made big ideas feel close, funny, practical—and often revolutionary.
Neurodivergent Patterns in Franklin’s Life
As with others in this series, we are not diagnosing Franklin—only noticing traits that align with what we now recognize in divergent thinkers. Though less often discussed in these terms, Franklin displays several such traits:
Endless Curiosity: From electricity to diplomacy to public health, Franklin never stopped learning or exploring.
Nonlinear Thinking: He was a pun-loving printer, a kite-flying scientist, and a Constitution-framing statesman—sometimes all in the same week.
Social Fluidity with Selective Depth: While gregarious, Franklin also maintained secret pseudonyms and complex, layered relationships.
Rule-Bending Imagination: He challenged both religious and political orthodoxy. He didn't just accept systems; he redesigned them.
THX Utilities in Franklin’s Legacy
Emotion Evoked: Wit, warmth, and wonder made his ideas accessible to the public.
Access: He founded libraries, fire departments, and the postal system to democratize knowledge and services.
Ease of Use: Franklin turned complexity into common sense, from Poor Richard’s Almanack to bifocals.
Meaning: His life and writing encouraged a belief in progress, public good, and personal growth.
Prospect Theory in Action
Franklin understood how to frame ideas in ways that made gain feel possible and loss avoidable. He championed civic innovation (like street lighting or fire insurance) by showing not only the rational benefits, but the emotional peace of mind.
He used humor, metaphor, and accessibility to lower the perceived risk of change—a masterclass in softening loss aversion.
PERMAH in Franklin’s Life
Positive Emotion: His life was steeped in delight, irony, invention, and humor
Engagement: Found in hands-on experiments and civic innovation
Relationships: Wide-ranging and global; he excelled at diplomacy and dialogue
Meaning: Deeply committed to the Enlightenment idea of betterment for self and society
Achievement: Scientist, printer, diplomat, author, founder, framer
Health: Generally robust but declined in later years; his resilience was mental as well as physical
Admiration Equation in Franklin's Legacy
People admired Franklin because he made transformation feel fun. He triggered:
Skill: In simplifying ideas and sparking innovation
Goodness: Through civic contribution and collaboration
Awe: At the breadth of his curiosity and productivity
Gratitude: For making complex ideas feel useful, warm, and welcome
He didn’t stand above people; he stood among them—and pulled them forward with him.
How the Frameworks Connect: Utility → PERMAH → Admiration
Utility: Franklin democratized access to learning and innovation, delivering emotional resonance and usefulness.
PERMAH: His inventions and ideas sparked joy, engagement, connection, and meaning.
Admiration: He is loved not just for what he did, but for how he made people feel while doing it.
From Utility to PERMAH to Admiration
➔ Utility → PERMAH
Emotion Evoked and Access activated Positive Emotion and Engagement.
Ease of Use lowered barriers to action and learning.
Meaning enhanced public service and optimism.
➔ PERMAH → Admiration Equation
When utility met identity, Franklin was admired for:
Skill in making wisdom digestible
Goodness in serving the public good
Awe in creating new paths forward
Gratitude for turning curiosity into contribution
The Power of Playful Systems
Franklin modeled a form of neurodivergence that wasn’t rigid or volatile—but expansive. He gave structure to his curiosity through daily charts, moral inventories, and civic projects. He made self-improvement feel playful and communal.
He shows us how the joy of learning can be as transformational as the fight for freedom.
Reflection and Challenge
Where in your life do you allow curiosity to lead, without needing a destination?
What systems have you built to support your creative mind?
How do you invite others into your experiments, failures, and insights?
Join the conversation: What’s one Franklin-esque curiosity you’d like to explore more deeply?
Next in the Series
Coming soon: George Washington and the embodied discipline of intentional restraint.
Interpretation:
This image captures the spirit of Franklin’s mind: wide-ranging, non-linear, and full of movement. The layered elements suggest both experimentation and accessibility—his ability to leap across disciplines while grounding ideas in practical wisdom. It’s not chaos for chaos’ sake; it’s play as a path to purpose.