Abstract

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) is the most accomplished American of his age and renowned as “The First American”. He has made great contributions in the fields of American education, science, diplomacy and economy. In his Autobiography, it portrays a story of a man from rags to riches, which reveals the pragmatic spirit. The pragmatism spirit in Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography deeply relates to his life experience and social macro environment in the 18th American context. Franklin’s pragmatism embodies in the evaluation criteria of practical benefits, experimental approach and prevalent orientation for human progress. This kind of pragmatism has been deeply related to his life experience but also rooted in profound historical and cultural background, which exerts a far-reaching influence on the American pragmatism and formation of American national character.

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