Harry Frankfurt

Harry Frankfurt, born on May twenty-ninth, nineteen twenty-nine, is a distinguished American philosopher renowned for his profound insights into ethics and the philosophy of mind. He served as a professor emeritus at Princeton University from nineteen ninety until two thousand two, and his academic journey also included teaching positions at Yale University, Rockefeller University, and Ohio State University.

Central to Frankfurt's philosophical exploration is the concept of caring, which he posits as a reflection of one's character. He argues that to care about something is to recognize its importance, a notion that distinguishes persons from wantons. While persons possess second-order volitions—caring about their desires—wantons are characterized by their lack of concern regarding which desires they act upon.

In the realm of ethics, Frankfurt is celebrated for his influential counterexamples, known as Frankfurt cases, which challenge the principle that moral responsibility hinges on the ability to do otherwise. His most notable work, On Bullshit, delves into the nuanced distinction between bullshitting and lying, further solidifying his reputation as a critical thinker.