Origins & Early Life

Thomas Nagel (; born July 4, 1937) is an American postanalytic philosopher. He is a professor of philosophy, a professor of law, and University Professor of Philosophy and Law Emeritus at New York University. From 2001 to 2003, he was the Fiorello LaGuardia Professor of Law at the New York University School of Law. His main areas of philosophical interest are political philosophy, ethics, and philosophy of mind.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

After earning his doctorate from Harvard University under John Rawls, Nagel was a professor of philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley, from 1963 to 1966 and a professor at Princeton University from 1966 to 1980. In 1967, he and Robert Nozick co-founded an influential group of philosophers known as the Society for Ethical and Legal Philosophy. In the 1970s, Nagel also co-founded the philosophy journal Philosophy & Public Affairs. Nagel is known for his critique of material reductionist accounts of the mind, particularly in his essay "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?" (1974), and for his contributions to liberal moral and political theory in The Possibility of Altruism (1970) and subsequent writings. He continued the critique of reductionism in Mind and Cosmos (2012...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Andrew Mellon — Contemporary (Died in 1937) (1937): American banker, industrialist, and politician who served as Secretary of the Treasury.
• Anthony Hopkins — Contemporary (Born in 1937) (1937): Esteemed Welsh actor celebrated for powerful stage and screen performances.
• Antonio Gramsci — Contemporary (Died in 1937) (1937): Italian Marxist philosopher known for his theory of cultural hegemony.
• Abbas Kiarostami — Shared historical date (07-04 · Died) (2016): Master Iranian filmmaker known for blending fiction and documentary styles.
• Alfredo Di Stéfano — Shared historical date (07-04 · Born) (1926): Argentine and Spanish legend, 'The Blond Arrow,' pivotal to Real Madrid's golden era.
• Austen Chamberlain — Historical peer (Died in 1937) (1937): Influential British statesman, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and key figure in early 20th-century politics.
• Bessie Head — Historical peer (Born in 1937) (1937): Pioneering South African writer, celebrated as Botswana's most influential voice.
• Aaliyah — Historical peer (Died in 2001) (2001): Pioneering R&B artist known for redefining urban pop and hip hop sounds.
• Anthony Gordon (footballer) — Historical peer (Born in 2001) (2001): English professional footballer known for his time at Everton, Newcastle, and Barcelona.
• Alberto Sordi — Historical peer (Died in 2003) (2003): Pillar of Italian Cinema, master of Commedia all'italiana comedy.
• 1937 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1937
• July 4 (07-04) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on July 4