# Thomas Nagel

> American philosopher

**Wikidata**: [Q350239](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q350239)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Nagel)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/thomas-nagel

## Summary
Thomas Nagel is an American philosopher renowned for his contributions to moral and political philosophy, consciousness studies, and the philosophy of mind. He is most famous for his influential 1974 paper "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?", which challenged physicalist theories of mind by arguing for the subjective, first-person nature of consciousness.

## Biography
- Born: July 4, 1937, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now Serbia)
- Nationality: United States
- Education: B.A. from Harvard University, M.A. and Ph.D. from Oxford University (as a Rhodes Scholar)
- Known for: Pioneering work on consciousness and subjective experience, particularly through the paper "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?"
- Employer(s): New York University (current), University of California, Berkeley, Princeton University
- Field(s): Philosophy of mind, ethics, political theory

## Contributions
Thomas Nagel has made foundational contributions to philosophy through his exploration of consciousness, moral philosophy, and political theory. His most influential works include:
- "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?" (1974) — a landmark paper that introduced the concept of subjective experience as a critical challenge to reductive physicalism.
- "The View from Nowhere" (1986) — a book that explores the tension between subjective and objective perspectives.
- "Moral Luck" (1979) — an essay examining the role of luck in moral judgments.
- "Equality and Partiality" (1991) — a work addressing the conflict between personal and impersonal moral standpoints.
- "The Last Word" (1997) — a defense of reason and objective truth in ethics and epistemology.
- "Mind & Cosmos" (2012) — a critique of materialist neo-Darwinian accounts of consciousness.
- "The Soul of the World" (2014) — a philosophical exploration of the limits of materialist naturalism.
- "Secular Philosophy and Religious Unbelief" (2023) — a discussion of the conflict between science and religion.

## FAQs
### What is Thomas Nagel's most famous philosophical contribution?
His 1974 paper "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?" is his most cited and influential work. It introduced the concept of subjective experience as a fundamental challenge to physicalist theories of consciousness.

### What are the main themes in Thomas Nagel's philosophical work?
Nagel's work centers on consciousness, moral and political philosophy, and the limits of materialist explanations of the mind. He is known for arguing that subjective experience cannot be fully captured by objective scientific analysis.

### What are some of Thomas Nagel's major publications?
Key publications include "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?" (1974), "Moral Luck" (1979), "The View from Nowhere" (1986), "Equality and Partiality" (1991), "The Last Word" (1997), "Mind & Cosmos" (2012), and "The Soul of the World" (2014).

### What awards has Thomas Nagel received?
He has been awarded the Rolf Schock Prize in Logic and Philosophy, the Balzan Prize for Philosophy, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts.

### Where has Thomas Nagel worked?
Nagel has been affiliated with New York University, University of California, Berkeley, Princeton University, and Harvard University, among others.

### What is Nagel's view on consciousness?
Nagel argues that consciousness involves subjective experience that cannot be reduced to physical processes, a view he elaborated in works like "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?" and "Mind & Cosmos."

## Why They Matter
Thomas Nagel's work has fundamentally shaped contemporary philosophy of mind and ethics. His critique of physicalism through the concept of subjective experience has influenced generations of philosophers and scientists. By emphasizing the irreducibility of consciousness to physical explanation, he has challenged dominant scientific and philosophical paradigms. His arguments have sparked debates in consciousness studies, cognitive science, and the philosophy of mind, influencing both academic discourse and public understanding of the mind-body problem.

## Notable For
- Authoring the landmark paper "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?" (1974)
- Challenging physicalist theories of mind and advocating for the irreducibility of subjective experience
- Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts
- Recipient of the Rolf Schock Prize in Logic and Philosophy and the Balzan Prize
- Critic of materialist neo-Darwinian accounts of consciousness in "Mind & Cosmos" (2012)
- Exploring the tension between subjective and objective viewpoints in "The View from Nowhere" (1986)
- Influencing debates in consciousness studies, ethics, and political theory

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Thomas Nagel was born on July 4, 1937, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). He pursued his undergraduate studies at Harvard University, earning a B.A. in philosophy. As a Rhodes Scholar, he continued his education at Oxford University, where he earned both an M.A. and a D.Phil. His early academic work laid the foundation for his later contributions to philosophy of mind and ethics.

### Career
Thomas Nagel began his academic career at Princeton University, where he taught for many years before moving to New York University, where he is currently a professor. He also held positions at the University of California, Berkeley, and has been a visiting professor at numerous institutions. His career has been marked by a consistent focus on the nature of consciousness, moral philosophy, and the limits of physicalist explanations of the mind.

### Publications and Philosophical Contributions
Nagel's most significant work includes:
- "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?" (1974) — This paper argues that consciousness has a subjective, first-person character that cannot be captured by objective physical descriptions. It remains one of the most cited works in philosophy of mind.
- "Moral Luck" (1979) — An influential essay that explores how moral judgments depend on factors beyond individual control.
- "The View from Nowhere" (1986) — A book-length treatment of the conflict between subjective and objective perspectives in ethics and epistemology.
- "Equality and Partiality" (1991) — A philosophical exploration of the tension between personal and impersonal moral standpoints.
- "The Last Word" (1997) — A defense of reason and objective truth in ethics and epistemology.
- "Mind & Cosmos" (2012) — A critique of materialist neo-Darwinian accounts of consciousness, arguing that consciousness cannot be fully explained by physical processes.
- "The Soul of the World" (2014) — A philosophical discussion of the limits of materialist naturalism and the role of mind in the natural order.

### Awards and Recognition
Thomas Nagel has received numerous honors, including:
- Rolf Schock Prize in Logic and Philosophy — awarded for his contributions to philosophy of mind and ethics.
- Balzan Prize — recognizing his work on consciousness and moral philosophy.
- Guggenheim Fellowship — awarded for his contributions to philosophy.
- Honorary Doctorate from Harvard University.

### Influence and Legacy
Nagel's work has had a profound impact on philosophy, particularly in the areas of consciousness studies, ethics, and political theory. His arguments have influenced debates in cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and the philosophy of mind. By emphasizing the irreducibility of subjective experience, he has challenged dominant scientific and philosophical paradigms. His work continues to inspire new generations of philosophers and scientists to explore the nature of consciousness and the limits of physicalist explanations.

### Affiliations and Memberships
Thomas Nagel is affiliated with:
- New York University — where he currently teaches in the Department of Philosophy.
- American Academy of Arts and Sciences — a member of this prestigious honorary society.
- European Academy of Sciences and Arts — recognized for his contributions to philosophy.

### Key Ideas and Arguments
Nagel's philosophical work is distinguished by:
- The argument that consciousness has a subjective, first-person character that cannot be captured by objective physical descriptions.
- A critique of materialist accounts of the mind, particularly in "Mind & Cosmos."
- The exploration of moral luck and its implications for ethical theory.
- The tension between subjective and objective perspectives in ethics and epistemology.

### Publications Timeline
- "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?" (1974) — Introduced the concept of subjective experience as a challenge to physicalism.
- "Moral Luck" (1979) — Explored the role of luck in moral judgments.
- "The View from Nowhere" (1986) — Examined the conflict between subjective and objective viewpoints.
- "Equality and Partiality" (1991) — Addressed the conflict between personal and impersonal moral standpoints.
- "The Last Word" (1997) — Defended reason and objective truth in ethics and epistemology.
- "Mind & Cosmos" (2012) — Critiqued materialist neo-Darwinian accounts of consciousness.
- "The Soul of the World" (2014) — Discussed the limits of materialist naturalism.

### Teaching and Academic Positions
Thomas Nagel has held academic positions at:
- Princeton University — where he taught for many years.
- New York University — his current institution.
- University of California, Berkeley — where he was a professor.
- Harvard University — where he earned his undergraduate degree and later received an honorary doctorate.

### Impact on Philosophy and Science
Nagel's work has influenced:
- Consciousness studies — by challenging physicalist theories and emphasizing subjective experience.
- Ethics — through his work on moral luck and the conflict between personal and impersonal viewpoints.
- Political theory — by exploring the implications of moral and political philosophy.
- Cognitive science — by questioning the adequacy of materialist explanations of the mind.
- Artificial intelligence — by highlighting the limits of computational theories of mind.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. Guggenheim Fellows database
4. [Source](https://www.harvard.edu/on-campus/commencement/honorary-degrees)
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. CiNii Research
7. MusicBrainz
8. Integrated Authority File
9. SNAC
10. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
11. Internet Philosophy Ontology project
12. Babelio
13. Munzinger Personen
14. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
15. Open Library
16. CONOR.SI
17. Autoritats UB
18. La France savante
19. Goodreads
20. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
21. Quora
22. Treccani Philosophy
23. Catalogo of the National Library of India