more from Thomas Nagel

Single Idea 3258

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 2. Duty]

Full Idea

If cockroaches cannot think about what they should do, there is nothing they should do.

Gist of Idea

If cockroaches can't think about their actions, they have no duties

Source

Thomas Nagel (The View from Nowhere [1986], VIII.3)

Book Reference

Nagel,Thomas: 'The View from Nowhere' [OUP 1989], p.150