This book brings together recent philosophical reflections by Thomas Nagel on topics of fundamental interest: ethics, moral psychology, science and religion, death, the Holocaust, and the metaphysics of the mind. Among the personalities discussed are Peter Singer, Alvin Plantinga, Christine Korsgaard, Tony Judt, Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Iris Murdoch, T. M. Scanlon, Ronald Dworkin, Samuel Scheffler, Daniel Kahneman, Jonathan Haidt, Joshua Greene, and Daniel Dennett. Nagel steadfastly defends a realistic interpretation of moral truth and resists reductive attempts that try to subordinate ethics to psychology and evolutionary theory. He also advocates a multi-faceted understanding of the content of ethics, in contrast to utilitarianism, which includes deontological elements such as rights and special responsibilities. A realistic perspective also guides his discussion of metaphysical and epistemological questions.
The book concludes with tributes to several people Nagel has known throughout his career. The essays are aimed at a general audience and should attract not only philosophers but also anyone interested in current efforts to understand human life, human values, and our place in the world.
- Pages: 312
- Dimensions: 14.9x14.9 cm
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