Junto
Benjamin Franklin's Philadelphia club for mutual improvement, community service, intellectual discourse.
Philadelphia, USA
Founded 1727
Company Links
Tags
Organization Type
Collective
Movement or scene
Nonprofit
Industries
Philosophy
Policy
Education
Humanities
Funding
Membership Fees
Self-funded
Philosophies
Human flourishing
Progress studies
Vibes
Academic-adjacent
Collaborative
Community-first
Experimental
Exploratory / weird
Narrative
The Junto, founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1727 Philadelphia, was a self-improvement discussion society for aspiring artisans and tradesmen. Members met weekly to discuss ethics, politics, natural philosophy, and business, fostering a collaborative environment for intellectual growth and civic engagement.
This structured approach to shared inquiry and knowledge exchange provided a unique platform for collective learning and community betterment, laying groundwork for future civic institutions.
Key People
Founder
- Benjamin Franklin
Breakthroughs
- Model for Civic Engagement: Established in 1727, the Junto provided a pioneering model for a self-improvement and discussion society focused on intellectual discourse, mutual aid, and civic betterment among common citizens. This informal club later inspired more formal institutions like the American Philosophical Society.
Related Entities
Influenced
- American Philosophical Society: The Junto served as a direct model and precursor for the establishment of this prominent learned society.