What Frankfurt Is A Needy Person Analysis
In this essay I will explain what Frankfurt means when he states that if someone loves the needy person, and helps him by giving him money; it stands as an explanation to why he helps him, but does not explain the reason why he helps him. I will also briefly explain Frankfurt’s definitions of love and duty, and the problem with these definitions in his example of a needy man. I also want to argue that Frankfurt contradicts his own definition of love when applying it to a needy man.
Frankfurt believes that there are two explanations to why people would give money to a needy man; out of love, and out of duty. He also believes that these explanations do not stand as reasons for helping the needy man. What he means by this is that there is a distinction …show more content…
Firstly the love must be ‘devoted’, and ‘non-voluntary’. This means that there is no choice in loving someone. Decisions are made with no contemplation and you can’t decide to stop loving them. Decisions that you make regarding whom you love are direct and there is no thought about duty. He also insists that love is ‘disinterested’. This implies that your interest is only the person you love, and your love with that person is the ultimate end goal. Therefore one must be selfless, and only want what is best for whom they love. (p. …show more content…
He uses his own children as an example of people who are important to him and who he loves. (p. 7) Therefore it is absurd to say that someone who would give money to a needy man, who he had never met before in his life, would give him money out of love. In the context it seems as though feelings of love have been confused with feelings of compassion. Perhaps the man has a caring character, and saw the needy man and chose to help him. It is possible that someone may have a passionate character and strive to help others with no dutiful intentions and therefore gave the needy man money to help him. The needy man may awaken feelings of compassion in a loving person, but does not necessarily mean that they love the needy
Frankfurt believes that there are two explanations to why people would give money to a needy man; out of love, and out of duty. He also believes that these explanations do not stand as reasons for helping the needy man. What he means by this is that there is a distinction …show more content…
Firstly the love must be ‘devoted’, and ‘non-voluntary’. This means that there is no choice in loving someone. Decisions are made with no contemplation and you can’t decide to stop loving them. Decisions that you make regarding whom you love are direct and there is no thought about duty. He also insists that love is ‘disinterested’. This implies that your interest is only the person you love, and your love with that person is the ultimate end goal. Therefore one must be selfless, and only want what is best for whom they love. (p. …show more content…
He uses his own children as an example of people who are important to him and who he loves. (p. 7) Therefore it is absurd to say that someone who would give money to a needy man, who he had never met before in his life, would give him money out of love. In the context it seems as though feelings of love have been confused with feelings of compassion. Perhaps the man has a caring character, and saw the needy man and chose to help him. It is possible that someone may have a passionate character and strive to help others with no dutiful intentions and therefore gave the needy man money to help him. The needy man may awaken feelings of compassion in a loving person, but does not necessarily mean that they love the needy