Harry Frankfurt

Date of Birth: May 29, 1929

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Biography

Harry Gordon Frankfurt is an American philosopher who is particularly known for his work in ethics, moral psychology, and philosophy of mind. He was born on May 29, 1929, in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Frankfurt earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1949 and subsequently received his Ph.D. from the same institution in 1954. Throughout his academic career, he held faculty positions at several prestigious universities, including Yale University, Rockefeller University, and Princeton University. One of his most famous works is the essay “On Bullshit,” published in 1986, which later became a best-selling book in 2005. The essay explores the concept of “bullshit” and differentiates it from lying, suggesting that bullshit is more dangerous because it shows a disregard for the truth entirely. Frankfurt has also written extensively on free will, moral responsibility, and the concept of love.

5 Interesting Facts about Harry Frankfurt

1. Harry Frankfurt served as the chair of the philosophy department at Princeton University from 1990 to 1999.

2. His essay “On Bullshit” was originally published in 1986 but gained widespread popularity after it was reissued as a book in 2005.

3. He has been a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences since 1984.

4. Frankfurt has written influential works on the philosophy of action, including his famous hierarchical model of free will.

5. He was awarded the Mellon Distinguished Achievement Award in the Humanities in 2004.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Harry Frankfurt

1. “One of the most salient features of our culture is that there is so much bullshit.”

2. “To tell a lie is to mislead others about the truth. To bullshit is to mislead others about your concern for the truth.”

3. “Love is at the center of our lives, and it is at the center of a good life.”

4. “The essence of bullshit is not that it is false but that it is phony.”

5. “Caring is a condition of being human, and it lies at the heart of what it is to be a person.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by Harry Frankfurt is not publicly documented, as philosophers typically do not accumulate wealth comparable to figures in the entertainment or business sectors.