This volume is a collection of thirteen seminal essays on ethics, free will, and the philosophy of mind. The essays deal with such central topics as freedom of the will, moral responsibility, the concept of a person, the structure of the will, the nature of action, the constitution of the self, and the theory of personal ideals. By focusing on the distinctive nature of human freedom, Professor Frankfurt is able to explore fundamental problems of what it is to be a person and of what one should care about in life.

哈里•G. 法兰克福（Harry G. Frankfurt）是最近三十多年来英语世界最有影响的哲学家之一，普林斯顿大学哲学系退休教授。他的主要研究领域包括道德哲学、心智与行动哲学以及17世纪理性主义特别是笛卡尔哲学。凭借On Bullshit（《论扯淡》，中译本，2008），法兰克福成为亚马逊十大畅销作家之一。其著作还包括On Truth(2006), Taking Ourselves Seriously and Getting It Right(2006), The Reasons of Love(2004), Necessity, Volition, and Love(1999), The Importance of What We Care about(1988, 2005), Demons, Dreamers, and Madmen, The Philosophy of Descartes(1970, 2008)。