The last word hardcover thomas nagel oxford university press. The substance of works by thomas nagel is always matter which matters. Reason must reflect objective principles whose validity is independent of our point of viewprinciples that anyone with enough intelligence ought to be able to recognize as correct. Thomas nagel quotes author of what does it all mean. Nagels opponents are not those against whom frege and husserl battled. On his enemies list are the architects of postmodernism, social scientists with delusions of grandeur, and philosophers ranging from hume and kant to w. Reason must reflect objective principles whose validity is independent of our point of. His construction of a coherent framework beyond subjectivism is refreshing, erudite, and impressive, and should generate intense interest both.
In the last word, thomas nagel, a leading philosopher and professor of law, presents a sustained defense of reason against the attacks of subjectivism, delivering systematic rebuttals against its many relativistic claims in the fields of language, logic, ethics, and science. The message is that there is a limit to the extent to which we can get outside fundamental forms of thought, including logical, mathematical, scientific and ethical thought. Do principles of reason have objective but indeterminate validity. Buy the last word book online at low prices in india the. Nagel tackles head on current forms of relativism in logic, language, science and ethics. In the last word, thomas nagel, a leading philosopher and professor of law, presents a sustained defense of reason against the attacks of subjectivism. Considering how prevalent postmodern subjectivist, relativistic, pragmatist andor naturalistic beliefs are these days, i highly recommend to pick this book and read nagel s arguments carefully.
Thomas nagels the last word is a defense of reason and objectivity against the claims of subjectivism, socalled perspectivalism and relativism. The last essay in the last word is entitled, evolutionary naturalism and the fear of religion. Oct 15, 2009 the last word by thomas nagel, oxford university press. If there is such a thing as reason, it has to be universal. He is a university professor of philosophy and law, emeritus, at new york university, where he taught from 1980 to 2016.
Pdf the view from nowhere download full pdf book download. Thomas nagels the last word is a contribution to this project of divorcing the stufy of. Thomas nagel is professor of philosophy at princeton university. Buy a cheap copy of the last word book by thomas nagel. Dr nagel 1937 is professor of philosophy and law at new york university. In speaking of the fear of religion, i dont mean to refer to the entirely reasonable hostility toward certain established religions and religious institutions, in virtue of their. In his book, the last word, atheist nagel writes the following. Thomas nagel nyu school of law thomas nagel wikipedia excerpts. If they had the arguments and evidence, then they wouldnt run from debates like richard dawkins does.
He shows that the last word in disputes about the objective validity. The last word philosophical essays thomas nagel download. Perhaps nagels concerns with it have to do with his own mortality. In the last word, thomas nagel argues against what he calls subjectivism, a general tendency to reduce the objective pretensions of reason. The last word hardcover thomas nagel oxford university. Like all nagels work, this is a book with a message. My weekend read was last word, a book by philosopher thomas nagel. The last word by thomas nagel 2001, ukpaperback for.
People ordinarily study philosophy only when they go to college, and i suppose that most readers will be of college age or older. In this discussion of where justification and understanding come to an end, nagel undertakes to refute various forms of. Peter atkins explains how to easily reconcile the big bang. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Larmore brown university abstract this article has no. The last word edition 1 by thomas nagel 9780195149838. Absurdity is one of the most human things about us. By thomas nagel the last word by thomas nagel if there is such a thing as reason, it has to be universal. Buy the last word book online at best prices in india on. He was educated at cornell, oxford, and harvard, and taught from 1963 to 1966 at the university of california, berkeley, before moving to princeton. An atheist explains the true reason religion terrifies him. But this generality of reason is what relativists and subjectivists deny in everincreasing numbers. The postmodernists have made subjectivism and relativism key tools in their attempt to combat the force of the enlightenment. His overall argument is that project of criticising reason is selfdefeating.
In the last word, thomas nagel, one of the most influential philosophers writing in english, presents a sustained defense of reason against the attacks of subjectivism, delivering systematic rebuttals of relativistic claims with respect to language, logic, science, and ethics. Both husserl and frege strove to understand the universal nature of thinking in a way that transcends the contingent peculiarities of individual thinkers or groups of thinkers. The last word by thomas nagel, oxford university press. Thomas nagels the last word it is frequently remarked that. One hopes that nagel does not consider it the last word on the topic given its fragmentary nature and occasional perversity. Jul 28, 2014 1 nagel, thomas, the last word new york.
This is the question thomas nagel raises in the last word, and the answer he gives in his subtle, compact, and forceful book is firmly and eloquently of the first kinda rationalist answer, as against answers that he variously calls subjectivist, relativist, and naturalist. Books the last word by thomas nagel antony flew cheers an attack on relativism by thomas nagel the substance of works by thomas nagel is always matter which matters. Thomas nagels the last word is a contribution to this project of divorcing the stufy of thought from the study of thinking. The last word by thomas nagel issue 20 philosophy now. In the last word, thomas nagel, one of the most influential philosophers writing in english, presents a sustained defense of reason against the attacks of. This latest book is a sustained polemic against subjectivist relativism. In the last word, leading philosopher thomas nagel presents a timely and vigorous defense of reason against the fashionable relativism that is alltoopervasive in contemporary intellectual culture. Nov 01, 2001 thomas nagels the last word is a defense of reason and objectivity against the claims of subjectivism, socalled perspectivalism and relativism. Nagel on evolutionary naturalism and the fear of religion. His target is the seemingly inexorable spread of subjectivism and relativism throughout the academy and indeed throughout philosophy itself. Jun 14, 2018 philosopher and new york university professor thomas nagel appears to be one of these. I have in my hand a copy of thomas nagel, the last word oxford university press, 1997.