Thomas Nagel b. 1937
Thomas Nagel (born 1937) is an American philosopher of the Contemporary era, associated with Analytic Philosophy.
Thomas Nagel is an American philosopher long associated with New York University, whose work has shaped contemporary thinking in the philosophy of mind, ethics, and political philosophy. His essay What Is It Like to Be a Bat? argued that the subjective character of experience cannot be reduced to objective physical description, and became a touchstone for the modern problem of consciousness. The View from Nowhere developed his theme of the tension between the subjective and the objective points of view, while Mind and Cosmos defended a non-theistic but anti-reductionist alternative to the standard materialist picture of nature.
Key facts
- Nationality
- American
- Era
- Contemporary
- Movements
- Analytic Philosophy
Selected quotes
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“I want to know what it is like for a bat to be a bat.”
p. 168. -
Attributed to Thomas Nagel:
“An objective view from nowhere offers part of the truth, but only part.”
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Attributed to Thomas Nagel:
“The mind-body problem is not just a local problem about consciousness; it is a problem about the world.”
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Attributed to Thomas Nagel:
“Reason has a proper authority over the will, even when it conflicts with our private interests.”
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Attributed to Thomas Nagel:
“Materialism, taken as a complete account of nature, is almost certainly false.”
Frequently asked about Thomas Nagel
- When was Thomas Nagel born?
- Thomas Nagel was born in 1937.
- Where was Thomas Nagel from?
- Thomas Nagel is an American philosopher of the Contemporary era.
- What philosophical movements is Thomas Nagel associated with?
- Thomas Nagel is associated with Analytic Philosophy.
- What is Thomas Nagel known for?
- Thomas Nagel is an American philosopher long associated with New York University, whose work has shaped contemporary thinking in the philosophy of mind, ethics, and political philosophy.
- How many quotes are attributed to Thomas Nagel?
- There are 15 attributed quotations from Thomas Nagel in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.