Late night conversations with chatGPT. A few months ago, like many others, I discovered chatGPT. While it is an interesting assistant in some research projects, I find often it is an interesting conversationalist.
Some of my reading has caused me to wonder about the interaction of different folks from history. For example did John Wesley interact with Benjamin Franklin? So I asked.
My Question, “Is it possible that John Wesley and Ben Franklin interacted?” chatGPT replied:
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There is no historical evidence to suggest that John Wesley and Benjamin Franklin had direct interactions or encounters with each other. While both Wesley and Franklin were significant figures in their respective fields during the 18th century, their areas of influence and geographical locations were different.
John Wesley, an English theologian and cleric, was primarily involved in religious matters and the development of the Methodist movement. He spent most of his life in England and had limited travels abroad.
Benjamin Franklin, on the other hand, was an American polymath, statesman, and scientist. He played a prominent role in the American Revolution and made significant contributions to various fields, including science, writing, and diplomacy. Franklin resided primarily in North America, with occasional visits to Europe.
While their paths may have crossed indirectly due to their prominence during the same era, there is no documented evidence of any personal interactions or correspondence between Wesley and Franklin.
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This, of course led to many other questions. I have become quite interested in this type of question regarding interactions among folks across disciplines, especially during the 17th and 18th centuries. It is difficult to find folks who also enjoy this conversation; especially at midnight.