Single Idea 3295

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 1. Mind / a. Mind]

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.

Gist of Idea

Inner v outer brings astonishment that we are a particular person

Source

Thomas Nagel (Subjective and Objective [1979], p.206)

Book Reference

Nagel,Thomas: 'Mortal Questions' [CUP 1981], 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…