The publication of the 1939 paper The Naturalistic Fallacy in the journal Mind established William Frankena as a significant figure in moral philosophy. Born in 1908 in Manhattan, Montana, he spent four decades at the University of Michigan, where he balanced extensive administrative service with foundational work in metaethics, normative theory, and the history of ethics.
Academic Foundations and Training
Born to Dutch immigrant parents, Frankena grew up in Montana and western Michigan. He earned his B.A. from Calvin College in 1930 before completing an M.A. at the University of Michigan in 1931. His doctoral training occurred at Harvard University, where he studied under figures such as C.I. Lewis and Alfred North Whitehead. During his Ph.D. research, he also worked with G.E. Moore and C.D. Broad at the University of Cambridge, providing the basis for his dissertation on intuitionism in British ethics.
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Frankena joined the University of Michigan philosophy department in 1937, remaining there until his retirement in 1978. He served as department chair from 1947 to 1961, gaining professional recognition for his defense of academic freedom during the McCarthy era. Beyond his administrative duties, he taught popular, historically based philosophy courses alongside his colleague Paul Henle. His method of composition was entirely manual; he preferred writing longhand with a mechanical pencil at a desk dating to 1870, never employing a typewriter or computer.
Contributions to Ethical Theory
In his influential 1963 book Ethics, Frankena provided a structural framework for value theory. He differentiated between the good, which concerns positive contributions to a life, and the right, which evaluates actions and policies. By applying this distinction, he contrasted teleological theories—which determine rightness based on outcomes—with deontological theories, which view certain actions as inherently correct. His work bridged diverse areas including moral psychology, religious ethics, and the philosophy of education.
Professional Recognition and Legacy
Throughout his career, Frankena held leadership roles in the American Philosophical Association, serving as president of its Western Division and chair of the Board of Officers. He received numerous honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and the opportunity to deliver the 1974 Paul Carus Lectures. Following his death in 1994, his professional papers were deposited at the Bentley Historical Library, while his book collection resides at the Tanner Philosophy Library at the University of Michigan.
Fast facts
- Born: 1908, Manhattan, Montana
- Died: 1994, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Education: Calvin College, University of Michigan, Harvard University
- Career tenure: University of Michigan (1937–1978)
- Notable work: Ethics (1963)
- Awards: Guggenheim Fellowship (1948), Carus Lectures (1974)
- Memberships: American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Phi Beta Kappa Society
Questions readers ask
What were Frankena's primary contributions to ethics?
He is recognized for clarifying fundamental concepts in value theory and distinguishing between teleological and deontological ethical frameworks.
Did Frankena work outside of the United States?
He conducted doctoral research at the University of Cambridge in England but spent his professional teaching career at the University of Michigan.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Michigan
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