Thomas Nagel, from Philosophy & Quotes

A collection of quotes by Thomas Nagel, from Philosophy & .

Thomas Nagel is an influential American philosopher known for his contributions to the fields of ethics, political philosophy, and philosophy of mind. Born on July 4, 1937, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now Serbia), Nagel migrated to the United States with his family in 1939, fleeing the Nazi occupation.

Nagel completed his undergraduate studies at Cornell University, where he developed a keen interest in philosophy. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in philosophy from Harvard University in 1963, studying under the guidance of renowned philosophers like John Rawls and Nelson Goodman.

Throughout his career, Nagel held academic positions at various prestigious institutions, including Princeton University, where he became a professor of philosophy in 1980. His writings cover a wide range of topics, but he is best known for his exploration of the subjective nature of consciousness and the mind-body problem. In his famous essay "What is it Like to be a Bat?" (1974), Nagel argues that subjective experiences, or what it feels like to perceive the world from a particular perspective, cannot be fully understood through objective observation alone.

Nagel has also made significant contributions to moral philosophy. His book "The View From Nowhere" (1989) tackles the inherent tension between subjective experience and objective reasoning, examining the implications for moral and political judgments.

A recipient of numerous accolades and honors, Nagel remains an influential figure in contemporary philosophy, continually challenging our understanding of the human experience and the philosophical foundations upon which it rests.