Harry Frankfurt

Harry Frankfurt (1929-2023) was an influential American philosopher and professor emeritus at Princeton University who made lasting contributions to moral philosophy, free will, and personal identity. His work on the nature of caring, personhood, and moral responsibility helped shape contemporary philosophical discussions in these areas. Frankfurt's most widely-known work is "On Bullshit" (2005), which analyzes the nature of truth and deception. The book draws important distinctions between lying and "bullshitting," arguing that the latter is more dangerous as it reflects a complete disregard for truth rather than merely seeking to conceal it. His scholarly work introduced key concepts like "second-order volitions" - the idea that humans can have desires about their desires - and the influential "Frankfurt cases" which challenge traditional notions about free will and moral responsibility. At Princeton, Yale, and other institutions, he developed these ideas while mentoring generations of philosophers. His theories about caring and what makes someone a "person" rather than a "wanton" continue to influence discussions in ethics and philosophy of mind. Frankfurt argued that caring about something, rather than merely wanting it, is what gives human life meaning and defines personal identity.

Readers appreciate Frankfurt's clear writing style and ability to explain complex philosophical concepts through everyday examples. On Amazon and Goodreads, "On Bullshit" receives consistent 4/5 star ratings, with readers noting its relevance to modern discourse and media. Readers highlight: - Concise analysis that avoids academic jargon - Practical applications to daily life and current events - Humor mixed with serious philosophical inquiry - Brief length that allows focus on core concepts Common criticisms: - Price too high for a short essay - Could have expanded key arguments further - Sometimes repeats points unnecessarily - Academic tone in certain sections Review stats: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (24,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (2,800+ ratings) One reader noted: "Frankfurt cuts through philosophical complexity to expose truth about how we communicate." Another wrote: "Makes you think twice about casual dishonesty in everyday conversation." Some readers found his other works like "On Truth" and "The Reasons of Love" more academically dense but appreciated their thorough analysis of fundamental concepts.

On Bullshit (2005) A philosophical examination of the difference between lying and bullshit, arguing that bullshit is more dangerous to society because it represents a complete indifference to truth rather than merely hiding it.

On Truth (2006) A follow-up analysis exploring why truth matters in society and why we should care about factual reality, responding to growing skepticism about the importance of truth.

The Reasons of Love (2004) An exploration of what love means, why we love, and how love relates to the things we care about and value in life.

Taking Ourselves Seriously and Getting It Right (2006) An investigation of human autonomy, rationality, and what it means to care about things, featuring responses from critics and a defense of Frankfurt's views.

Necessity, Volition, and Love (1999) A collection of essays examining the relationships between necessity, free will, and love in human behavior and decision-making.

The Importance of What We Care About (1988) A series of essays addressing personal identity, free will, and moral responsibility through the lens of what humans care about.

Demons, Dreamers, and Madmen: The Defense of Reason in Descartes's Meditations (1970) A detailed analysis of Descartes's philosophical method and his defense of reason against skepticism.

Daniel Dennett His work on consciousness and free will builds on Frankfurt's investigations of personhood and moral responsibility. His book "Elbow Room" specifically engages with Frankfurt's ideas about free will while developing his own materialist framework.

Bernard Williams He explores questions of moral luck and responsibility that complement Frankfurt's work on free will and caring. Williams shares Frankfurt's commitment to analyzing how personal identity shapes moral behavior and authentic living.

Charles Taylor His work on authenticity and the self addresses similar questions to Frankfurt about what makes human life meaningful. Taylor's explorations of moral frameworks and modern identity connect directly to Frankfurt's ideas about caring and personhood.

Susan Wolf Her work on moral responsibility and the meaning of life builds on Frankfurt's theories about caring and what we value. Wolf's writing on free will and moral desert engages extensively with Frankfurt cases and their implications.

Michael Bratman His planning theory of intention develops Frankfurt's ideas about higher-order volitions and practical reasoning. Bratman's work on shared agency and self-governance extends Frankfurt's analysis of how we structure our will and commitments.