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Thomas Nagel
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Thomas Nagel
Full Name and Common Aliases
Thomas Nagel is a renowned American philosopher, known for his significant contributions to the fields of philosophy of mind, ethics, and political theory.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on July 25, 1937, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now Serbia), Thomas Nagel is still active today. His work has had a profound impact on the world of philosophy, and he continues to be widely quoted and respected for his insights.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nagel holds American nationality and is primarily recognized as a philosopher. However, his expertise spans multiple disciplines, including ethics, moral philosophy, and the philosophy of mind. He has held various academic positions throughout his career, including serving as University Professor at New York University (NYU) and Professor of Law at NYU School of Law.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in a multicultural environment, Nagel's family relocated to the United States when he was six years old. This experience likely influenced his perspective on cultural identity and shaped his thoughts on human rights and international relations. He received his early education in New York City before enrolling at Swarthmore College, where he earned his Bachelor's degree. Nagel then pursued further studies at Cornell University (Ph.D.) and Oxford University (D.Phil.).
Major Accomplishments
Thomas Nagel has made significant contributions to the fields of philosophy, ethics, and politics throughout his career. Some of his notable achievements include:
Developing the concept of "What is it like to be a bat?" which sparked a debate on subjective experience and other minds.
Arguing in favor of moral skepticism and criticizing the idea that objective moral principles can be discovered through reason alone.
Making significant contributions to the philosophy of mind, particularly in relation to consciousness and the nature of mental states.Notable Works or Actions
Nagel has authored numerous influential books and articles. Some notable works include:
Mortal Questions (1979) - a collection of essays that explore various aspects of human existence.
The View from Nowhere (1986) - a comprehensive work on the nature of consciousness and subjective experience.
What Does It All Mean? A Very Short Introduction to Philosophy (1987) - an introductory text that provides insights into philosophical thought.
Impact and Legacy
Thomas Nagel's contributions have had far-reaching impacts across various fields. His philosophical ideas have shaped contemporary debates on ethics, politics, and human rights. The wide range of topics he has addressed continues to influence scholars and thinkers in academia and beyond.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Nagel is widely quoted and respected due to his profound insights into the complexities of human existence. His philosophical works have challenged conventional wisdom and sparked discussions on fundamental questions about consciousness, morality, and the nature of reality. As a result, he remains an influential voice in contemporary philosophy and continues to inspire new generations of thinkers.
In summary, Thomas Nagel's extensive contributions to philosophy have cemented his position as one of the most important thinkers of our time. His thought-provoking ideas continue to shape our understanding of human existence, morality, and consciousness, making him a valuable figure in academic and intellectual circles today.
Quotes by Thomas Nagel
Thomas Nagel's insights on:
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The world is an astonishing place, and the idea that we have in our possession the basic tools needed to understand it is no more credible now than it was in Aristotle’s day.
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My skepticism is not based on religious belief, or on a belief in any definite alternative. It is just a belief that the available scientific evidence, in spite of the consensus of scientific opinion, does not in this matter rationally require us to subordinate the incredulity of common sense. That is especially true with regard to the origin of life.
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Physical science has progressed by leaving the mind out of what it tries to explain, but there may be more to the world than can be understood by physical science.
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If life is not real, life is not earnest, and the grave is its goal, perhaps it’s ridiculous t otake ourselves so seriously.
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Even if we acknowledge the existence of distinct and irreducible perspectives, the wish for a unified conception of the world doesn’t go away. If we can’t achieve it in a form that eliminates individual perspectives, we may inquire to what extent it can be achieved if we admit them.
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To put it schematically, the claim “Everything is subjective” must be nonsense, for it would itself have to be either subjective or objective. But it can’t be objective, since in that case it would be false if true. And it can’t be subjective, because then it would not rule out any objective claim, including the claim that it is objectively false.
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In every area of thought we must rely ultimately on our judgments, tested by reflection, subject to correction by the counterarguments of others, modified by the imagination and by comparison with alternatives.
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It would be an advance if the secular theoretical establishment, and the contemporary enlightened culture which it dominates, could wean itself of the materialism and Darwinism of the gaps.
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The most radical conclusion to draw from this would be that your mind is the only thing that exists.
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Whatever one may think about the possibility of a designer, the prevailing doctrine – that the appearance of life from dead matter and its evolution through accidental mutation and natural selection to its present forms has involved nothing but the operation of physical law – cannot be regarded as unassailable. It is an assumption governing the scientific project rather than a well-confirmed scientific hypothesis.
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