Single Idea 9239

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / g. Love]

Full Idea

Beside the fact that my children are important to me for their own sakes, there is the additional fact that loving my children is important to me for its own sake.

Gist of Idea

I value my children for their sake, but I also value my love for them for its own sake

Source

Harry G. Frankfurt (The Reasons of Love [2005], 2.7)

Book Reference

Frankfurt,Harry G.: 'The Reasons of Love' [Princeton 2006], p.51


A Reaction

This is at the heart of Frankfurt's thesis, that love is the bedrock of our values in life, and we therefore all need to love in order to generate any values in our life, quite apart from what our love is directed at. Nice thought.