Thomas NagelAcumen, 2009 - 270 pagina's 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. |
Inhoudsopgave
Preface | 3 |
Understanding knowledge and reason | 31 |
Placing the mind in the physical world | 61 |
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absolute conception action agent agent-neutral reasons agent-relative reasons aspect basic Bernard Williams C-fibre Cartesian objectification Chapter claim commitments conceive consequentialist context contrast Davidson deontic constraints deontology described desires discussion distinction egalitarianism experience explain first-personal Hegelian Humean hybrid theory idea ideal identity important individual interpretation intuitive involves issue judgements kind knowledge knowledge argument matter mental concepts model of objectification moral Mount Kilimanjaro Nagel argues Nagel believes Nagel thinks Nagel's argument Nagel's view nature normative ethical objective level objective reasons objective standpoint objective view one's particular person perspectival fact perspective phenomenology philosophical philosophical scepticism philosophy of mind physical physicalist point of view political Possibility of Altruism practical reasoning principles problem psychophysical identities radically perspectival rational Rawls Rawls's realism reality reflection representations responsibility scepticism scope seems sense simple motivational theorist simply solipsism Strawson's subjective theory of justice Thomas Nagel tion truth understanding universal quantification Williams