Phil 102 Paper
A Review of Thomas Nagel’s
‘The Absurd’
PHIL102000
June 30, 2012
Professor S. Gallegos
ABSTRACT
In his paper, The Absurd, Thomas Nagel attempts to provide some insight regarding the problem of the meaning of life. He makes clear, his conception of this problem, which concerns the natural expression of the sense that life is Absurd, and then offers a persuasive account of what such absurdity might consist in. I believe that Nagel’s proposal provides important insight into the problem of absurdity, and thus a satisfactory resolution to the problem must be able to prove that the aspect in which people view their lives as absurd, and therefore meaningless, is fallacious. I will argue that in his attempt to defend his proposal, Nagel gives good grounds as to the reason of why life is absurd, however, I do not believe that he satisfactorily defends his claim that there are good grounds for in which, it exists. I intend to analyze Nagel’s arguments through his considerations of the epistemological problem of how a person could warrant their life as meaningful, and the metaphysical assertion that a person’s life is meaningful. I shall also purport my own opinions in conclusion of my analysis. In examining his considerations, I will come to the conclusion that the mere truth of Nagel’s epistemological thesis lies in the conclusion that people lack ‘subjective guarantees’ that their lives are not absurd, and therefore the fear or doubt in regarding whether their lives are meaningful is unavoidable.
Is Nagel’s Defense of his Proposal Satisfactory?
A Review of Thomas Nagel’s ‘The Absurd’
Nagel’s paper opens by pointing out that people naturally provide an expression for the sense that life is absurd. He notes that the reasons that are ordinarily given for thinking that life is absurd are inadequate and then cites four examples. The first is that our existence will not matter a long time from now. He argues that if it is true that
‘The Absurd’
PHIL102000
June 30, 2012
Professor S. Gallegos
ABSTRACT
In his paper, The Absurd, Thomas Nagel attempts to provide some insight regarding the problem of the meaning of life. He makes clear, his conception of this problem, which concerns the natural expression of the sense that life is Absurd, and then offers a persuasive account of what such absurdity might consist in. I believe that Nagel’s proposal provides important insight into the problem of absurdity, and thus a satisfactory resolution to the problem must be able to prove that the aspect in which people view their lives as absurd, and therefore meaningless, is fallacious. I will argue that in his attempt to defend his proposal, Nagel gives good grounds as to the reason of why life is absurd, however, I do not believe that he satisfactorily defends his claim that there are good grounds for in which, it exists. I intend to analyze Nagel’s arguments through his considerations of the epistemological problem of how a person could warrant their life as meaningful, and the metaphysical assertion that a person’s life is meaningful. I shall also purport my own opinions in conclusion of my analysis. In examining his considerations, I will come to the conclusion that the mere truth of Nagel’s epistemological thesis lies in the conclusion that people lack ‘subjective guarantees’ that their lives are not absurd, and therefore the fear or doubt in regarding whether their lives are meaningful is unavoidable.
Is Nagel’s Defense of his Proposal Satisfactory?
A Review of Thomas Nagel’s ‘The Absurd’
Nagel’s paper opens by pointing out that people naturally provide an expression for the sense that life is absurd. He notes that the reasons that are ordinarily given for thinking that life is absurd are inadequate and then cites four examples. The first is that our existence will not matter a long time from now. He argues that if it is true that