The Last Word

by Thomas Nagel

Book Overview

If there is such a thing as reason, it has to be universal. Reason must reflect objective principles whose validity is independent of our point of view--principles that anyone with enough intelligence ought to be able to recognize as correct. But this generality of reason is what relativists and subjectivists deny in ever-increasing numbers. And such subjectivism is not just an inconsequential intellectual flourish or badge of theoretical chic. It...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195149831
• ISBN13: 9780195149838
• Release Date: November 2001
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Excellent!

Thomas Nagel offers a solid defense for the significance of reason. He argues along the lines that there is no way to argue against reason without making use of reason. His critical point: skeptisism is self-refuting. also recommended: Thomas Kuhn in the Light of Reason

Reason wins!

In this lucid, compact and profound volume the always incisive philosopher Thomas Nagel goes about defending the very thing that makes philosophy possible: reason. Reason has been under attack of late. Whether it be deconstructionist continental nonsense (usually of the Gallic variety) or reductionist empiricism (think Richard Dawkins) reason itself has been a whipping boy in the intellectual community. In forceful prose Nagel reasserts the primacy of classical reason to all human understanding and thought; the variety in which he reasserts his basic argument is both convincing and creative. It's somewhat sad that the relativist, reductionist status quo of the academy forced this classical defense by this modern enlightenment thinker. Though his other work, like the brilliant "Mortal Questions", shed more light on his philosophical preoccupations, this work in many ways elucidates the structure in which Nagel attacks all his philosophical quandaries. One interesting result of this books thesis, one that goes slightly ignored in the text, is the metaphysical implications of the existence of reason in a "naturalistic world." An unabashed atheist, Nagel is, nonetheless, perplexed by reason's ontological status and even describes his acceptance of reason as "Spinoza-istic." The reality of reason in a evolved species is an interesting problem and perhaps one for future study, but the point of "the last word" is to reassert the NECESSARY primacy of reason to any and all judgements. I found it utterly convincing.

An Excellent Introduction

This is classic Nagel. He is one of the most important philosophers in America today. And his philosophical prose style clearly demonstrates why that is the case: it is clear, direct, and straightforward. This text (along with Mortal Questions and A View From Nowhere) would be a great Intro. to Philosophy text; it is a superb example of how analytic philosophy should be written. There are actually arguments here. Imagine that.Yes, the text bashes various forms of relativism and subjectivism (in favor of "objective facts" and "objective values"). But possibly the most important chapter is titled, "Logic." Read this chapter. I won't ruin the sunset ending for you.I highly recommend this text. As well as: Searle, Mind, Language, Society; and Nozick, Invariances.

Visionary, Yet Not A Car Battery

In this ether-soluble book, Nagel embraces a huge task: even though no one knows what the first word was (linguists are still debating whether it was "cavalcade," or some obscure term from organic chemistry) Nagel proposes to deduce what the last word will be, using nothing more than a band saw and a pair of old rubber boots. While he doesn't completely fulfill this task, along the way he puts to rest certain baffling epistemological questions, such as the question as to why pain hurts so much, and why it's so difficult to keep a match lit on an extremely windy day. Yet Nagel fails to explain the curious fact that, in the only picture I've ever seen of him, he does not appear disheveled enough to be a philosopher -- although, to be fair, he does not address the issue, which may explain why he leaves it unanswered. Even so, one would expect him at the very least to offer an interpretation of "Astronomy Domine," or an explanation for the popularity of mixed drinks at cocktail parties. Nonetheless, if Nagel prefers diced pine cones to cheese on his ham sandwiches, I suppose that is his own business. You may prefer shards of glass pickled in motor oil, but even if you do, you will tremendously enjoy this book.

Nagel makes an excellent case for naturalism and reason

As a graduate student in Religious Studies and Philosophy, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and plan to reference it in my papers. Although, this may not have been the author's intent, his logical and objective approaches to reason, help support the universal and exceptionless principles of the faith! Should be a must-read for any theologian as pointed out in recent religious periodicals like Christianity Today.