Cadernos de História da Educação
On-line version ISSN 1982-7806
Abstract
AMSTEL, Narayana Astra Van; QUITZAU, Evelise Amgarten and SILVA, Marcelo Moraes e. Amusements and education of the body in Protestantism of Benjamin Franklin (1682-1791). Cad. Hist. Educ. [online]. 2021, vol.20, e015. Epub Jan 29, 2022. ISSN 1982-7806. https://doi.org/10.14393/che-v20-2021-15.
The purpose of this paper is to comprehend the elements that characterized the posture of north American Protestantism regarding amusements and the education of the body. Although there are many works on Benjamin Franklin few have explored the relation of their contributions with a prescription on the use of free time and the education of the body. The sources were Pennsylvania legislations and the writings of Franklin. The analysis evidence that, if on one hand the laws constituted a set of interdictions regarding idleness and amusements, on the other hand Franklin’s writings brought favorable mentions about activities such as chess and athletic practices, justifying based on a utilitarian moral.
Keywords : Protestant ethics; Amusements; Free time; America; History.