Harry Frankfurt

Date of Birth: May 29, 1929

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: July 16, 2023

Biography

Harry Gordon Frankfurt was a prominent American philosopher, noted for his work in moral philosophy and the philosophy of mind. Born in 1929 in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, Frankfurt’s academic journey began with a BA from Johns Hopkins University in 1949, followed by a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the same institution in 1954. Frankfurt’s career spanned several prestigious universities, including Yale, Princeton, and Rockefeller University. He is perhaps best known for his seminal essay “On Bullshit,” which explores the concept and societal implications of bullshit. This work brought him a broader public recognition beyond the academic sphere. Frankfurt’s intellectual contributions extend to topics like free will, moral responsibility, and the nature of truth, making him a central figure in contemporary philosophical discourse.

5 Interesting Facts about Harry Frankfurt

1. Harry Frankfurt served as the chair of the philosophy department at Princeton University.

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

3. Frankfurt has written extensively on the concept of free will, including the influential paper “Alternate Possibilities and Moral Responsibility” (1969).

4. He received the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in 1972.

5. Frankfurt was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1991.

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. “A person who lies is thereby responding to the truth, and he is to that extent respectful of it.”

3. “The bullshitter is involved in a more pervasive and radical kind of deception: he misrepresents what he is up to.”

4. “Sincerity itself is bullshit.”

5. “In order to invent and effectuate a lie, the liar has to design his falsehood under the guidance of the truth.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Harry Frankfurt’s highest net worth achieved was estimated to be around $1 million, largely from his academic career and book sales.

Children

Harry Frankfurt had two children, a son and a daughter. His son, Daniel Frankfurt, is an economist, while his daughter, Karen Frankfurt, is a psychologist.