Home / Authors / Thomas Nagel

Thomas Nagel

Thomas Nagel Quotes

Philosopher

Thomas Nagel, born on July 4, 1937, is an American philosopher renowned for his contributions to moral philosophy, political philosophy, and epistemology. His works delve into themes such as free will, moral intuition, objectivity, philosophy of mind, and religion.

Filter quotes by topic

All Ifs Action Ethics Moral Psychology World Consciousness Universe Believe Belief Mind Objectives Problem Theory Views Accounts Conscious Form Knows Life Is

Famous Thomas Nagel Quotes

“I conceive ethics as a branch of psychology.”

Action Moral Psychology Ethics Branches

Book:The Possibility of Altruism

Source: The Possibility of Altruism

“equally real at all stages of his life; specifically, the fact that a particular stage is present cannot be regarded as conferring on it any special status.”

Real Facts Action Moral Psychology Special Stage Particular Ethics

Book:The Possibility of Altruism

Source: The Possibility of Altruism

“To look for a single general theory of how to decide the right thing to do is like looking for a single theory of how to decide what to believe.”

Believe Looks Action Moral Psychology Theory Ethics Things To Do Right Thing

Book:Mortal Questions : Canto

Source: Mortal Questions : Canto

“A theory of motivation is defective if it renders intelligible behaviour which is not intelligible.”

Ifs Action Motivation Moral Psychology Theory Ethics Behaviour Defective

Book:The Possibility of Altruism

Source: The Possibility of Altruism

“A person may be greedy, envious, cowardly, cold, ungenerous, unkind, vain, or conceited, but behave perfectly by a monumental act of the will.”

May Persons Action Moral Psychology Cold Ethics Vain Behave Greedy Cowardly Envious Unkind Conceited

Book:Mortal Questions

Source: Mortal Questions

“The inclusion of consequences in the conception of what we have done is an acknowledgement that we are parts of the world, but the paradoxical character of moral luck which emerges from this acknowledgement shows that we are unable to operate with such a view, for it leaves us with no one to be.”

World Done Character Shows Action Views Moral Psychology Ethics Consequence Luck Conception Inclusion Paradoxical Acknowledgement

Book:Mortal Questions

Source: Mortal Questions

“Once we see an aspect of what we or someone else does as something that happens, we lose our grip on the idea that it has been done and that we can judge the doer and not just the happening.”

Doe Has Beens Ideas Done Happens Action Loses Moral Psychology Judging Happenings Ethics Aspect Doers

Book:Mortal Questions : Canto

Source: Mortal Questions : Canto

“The external view [of agency] forces itself on us at the same time that we resist it. One way this occurs is through the gradual erosion of what we do by the subtraction of what happens.”

Way Happens Action Force Views Moral Psychology Ethics One Way Agency Erosion Subtraction

Book:Mortal Questions : Canto

Source: Mortal Questions : Canto

“Common sense doesn't have the last word in ethics or anywhere else, but it has, as J. L. Austin said about ordinary language, the first word: it should be examined before it is discarded.”

Should Firsts Said Action Lasts Language Common Moral Psychology Ordinary Ethics Common Sense Last Words Discarded Austin

Book:The View From Nowhere

Source: The View From Nowhere

About the Author

Born: July 4, 1937
Known for: Philosopher
Quotes: 52

Related Topics

Ifs Action Ethics Moral Psychology World Consciousness Universe Believe Belief Mind Objectives Problem Theory Views Accounts Conscious Form Knows Life Is

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Mind and Cosmos: Why the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature Is Almost Certainly FalseRelated source material

Mortal QuestionsRelated source material

Mortal Questions : CantoRelated source material

The View From NowhereRelated source material

The Possibility of AltruismRelated source material

What Does It All Mean?: A Very Short Introduction to PhilosophyRelated source material

Mind & Cosmos: Why the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature is Almost Certainly FalseRelated source material

Concealment and Exposure: And Other EssaysRelated source material

Other Minds: Critical Essays 1969-1994Related source material

Secular Philosophy and the Religious Temperament: Essays 2002-2008Related source material

Similar Authors

Wilhelm WundtBrowse related quotes
Derek ParfitBrowse related quotes
Nomy ArpalyBrowse related quotes
David ChalmersBrowse related quotes
Allen W. WoodBrowse related quotes
William JamesBrowse related quotes
Elvin C. StakmanBrowse related quotes
John Fletcher Moulton, Baron MoultonBrowse related quotes
Josh WiddicombeBrowse related quotes
Boris SidisBrowse related quotes