Question

1) What is the difference between a "first-order" and "second-order" desire? Give an example of each. 2) Frankfurt says that one "essential difference between persons and other creatures is to be found in the structure of a person's will" (12). What does that mean? 3) The notion of the will "is the notion of an effective desire," (14). What is an "effective desire"? 4) Frankfurt contrasts persons with "wantons" (e.g. animals, children). He says that "the essential characteristic of a wanton is that he does not care about his will" (16). What does that mean? 5) "The unwilling addict's will is not free" (21) because it is not the will he wants." What does it mean to not have the will one wants?

Answer 1

• ANSWER 1.Frankfurt tends to identify a person's will with their desires.He distinguished between first order and second order desires.A first order desire is a desire for anything other than a desire,whereas a second order desire is a desire for a desire.For example,you have a first order desire drink alcohol and second order desire that you desire not to drink alcohol.
• First order desires include a desire to own a car,drink alcohol,smoke a ciggarette,want to eat pizza,want to sleep,want to talk to my friends etc.These desires specify that they are quite strong enough to pull you towards it.
• Second order desire a a desire to change some process,i.e. the how of desiring,but it doesnt really specify how strong we want that desire to be.For example,I wish I wanted to study more often to get good grades, but I simply don’t have a first-order desire to do so.
• First order desire is a desire to perform some action.For example,a desire to eat a bag of potato chips is a first-order desire and wanting world peace is not.
• Second order desire is a desire to have a certain desire.For example,a desire that I should desire celery rather than potato chips is an example of a second-order desire.
• Due to time limit,remaining questions can be asked as another question,they will be answered,thankyou for your cooperation