Ideas from 'Subjective and Objective' by Thomas Nagel [1979], by Theme Structure

[found in 'Mortal Questions' by Nagel,Thomas [CUP 1981,0-521-29460-6]].

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12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 4. Sense Data / d. Sense-data problems
Sense-data are a false objectification of what is essentially subjective
                        Full Idea: The private object or sense datum view is an instance of the false objectification of what is essentially subjective.
                        From: Thomas Nagel (Subjective and Objective [1979], p.207)
15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 1. Mind / a. Mind
Inner v outer brings astonishment that we are a particular person
                        Full Idea: The problem of reconciling the objective and subjective points of view takes its purest form in a sense of incredulity that one should be anyone in particular.
                        From: Thomas Nagel (Subjective and Objective [1979], p.206)
                        A reaction: Nice observation. This idea has always struck me forcibly, and seems to be one of those basic intuitions which motivates philosophy, and yet the subject has almost nothing to say about it. Of course you are you, or you wouldn't be amazed by it…
16. Persons / B. Nature of the Self / 4. Presupposition of Self
If you assert that we have an ego, you can still ask if that future ego will be me
                        Full Idea: The metaphysical ego, if it is a continuing individual with its identity over time, is just one more thing about which the same problem can be raised - will that ego still be me?
                        From: Thomas Nagel (Subjective and Objective [1979], p.200)
                        A reaction: You can worry too much about some philosophical questions. If it is me now, and it has continuing individual identity over time, I'm not going to lose sleep over the possibility that it might nevertheless somehow cease to be me. I'm overrated.
16. Persons / F. Free Will / 1. Nature of Free Will
The most difficult problem of free will is saying what the problem is
                        Full Idea: The most difficult problem of free will is saying what the problem is.
                        From: Thomas Nagel (Subjective and Objective [1979], p.198)
23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 3. Universalisability
As far as possible we should become instruments to realise what is best from an eternal point of view
                        Full Idea: The right thing to do is to turn oneself as far as possible into an instrument for the realisation of what is best 'sub specie aeternitatis'.
                        From: Thomas Nagel (Subjective and Objective [1979], p.204)