Thomas Nagel (Philosophy Now)

In the first systematic study of the philosophy of Thomas Nagel, Alan Thomas discusses Nagel's contrast between the "subjective" and the "objective" points of view throughout the various areas of his wide ranging philosophy. Nagel's original and distinctive contrast between the subjective view and our aspiration to a "view from nowhere" within metaphysics structures the chapters of the book. A "new Humean" in epistemology, Nagel takes philosophical scepticism to be both irrefutable and yet to indicate a profound truth about our capacity for self-transcendence. The contrast between subjective and objective views is then considered in the case of the mind, where consciousness proves to be the central aspect of mind that contemporary theorising fails to acknowledge adequately. The second half of the book analyses Nagel's work on moral and political philosophy where he has been most deeply influential. Topics covered include the contrast between agent-relative and agent-neutral reasons and values, Nagel's distinctive version of a hybrid ethical theory, his discussion of life's meaningfulness and finally his sceptical arguments about whether a liberal society can reconcile the conflicting moral demands of self and other. Annotation Thomas Nagel¿s contribution to philosophy over the past forty years has been enormously influential. In this book, the first sustained examination of Nagel¿s ideas, Alan Thomas provides readers with a detailed exploration of the central dichotomy around which Nagel organizes his philosophy: the concern over how to reconcile the "subjective" and "objective" views of the world. Thomas begins by clarifying and defending Nagel¿s basic metaphysical contrast between subjective and objective ways of thinking about the world. He shows how a proper understanding of radically perspectival views of the world allows one to defend some of Nagel¿s mostimportant claims about the mind: his influential work in the philosophy of mind is traced from his early paper on physicalism to his recent defence of a form of dual aspect theory. Thomas then turns the argument to ethics, where Nagel¿s influence is pre-eminent, and the development of his views is traced from his contrast between subject and objective reasons in his early work to his later hybrid ethical theory. The volume concludes with an examination of Nagel¿spolitical philosophy, particularly his recent controversialwork on global justice Cover......Page 1 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 Abbreviations ......Page 11 1. Subjective and objective......Page 12 2. Understanding, knowledge and reason......Page 42 3. Placing the mind in the physical world......Page 72 4. The possibility of altruism......Page 118 5. Practical objectivity, freedom and a realistic autonomy......Page 148 6. Normative ethics: Nagel's hybrid ethical theory......Page 174 7. Justice, equality and partiality......Page 218 Conclusion......Page 244 Notes......Page 250 Bibliography......Page 264 Index......Page 278 Subjective And Objective Understanding, Knowledge And Reason Placing The Mind In The Physical World The Possibility Of Altruism Practical Objectivity, Freedom And A Realistic Autonomy Normative Ethics: Nagel's Hybrid Ethical Theory Justice, Equality And Partiality Alan Thomas. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 239-266) And Index.