What Does It All Mean?

In this cogent and accessible introduction to philosophy, the distinguished author of Mortal Questions and The View From Nowhere sets forth the central problems of philosophical inquiry for the beginning student. Arguing that the best way to learn about philosophy is to think about its questions directly, Thomas Nagel considers possible solutions to nine problems--knowledge of the world beyond our minds, knowledge of other minds, the mind-bodyproblem, free will, the basis of morality, right and wrong, the nature of death, the meaning of life, and the meaning of words. Although he states his own opinions clearly, Nagel leaves these fundamental questions open,allowing students to entertain other solutions and encouraging them to think for themselves.

“"Nagel does manage to give one a taste of what it is to thinkphilosophically about things. This in itself is a worthy accomplishment in ourbusy, unphilosophical age. And unlike most academic introductions to thesubject, his book preserves some trace of that sense of wonder that both Platoand Aristotle claimed was the origin of philosophical reflection."--Wall StreetJournal”

"A very well written book...great for introducing the topics to an intro-level class. It touches on key issues and brings up the relevant points, yet all in relatively short and easy-to-understand chapters. Would be a great supplement for a course in metaphysics."--Jack Bowen, DeAnza College"An excellent introduction; it introduces students to some of the important philosophical questions without overwhelming them with terminology or history."--Jason A. Beyer, College of Lake County"A phenomenal amount of material in a tiny book coupled with humor."--Joan Anderson, Orange Coast College, CA"A good philosophy book for neophytes. It is penetrable for the beginner and comprehensive enough to elucidate a spectrum of traditional philosophic issues."--David Wolf, SUNY at Albany"A good, clearly interesting book to use for an Introduction to Philosophy course. Thomas Nagel has done a fine job."--Stephen Joseph, Framingham State College"This little book by Nagel is quite simply the best introduction to philosophy ."--Graham Oddie, University of Colorado at Boulder"The perfect title for a writing that offers no answers while helping the student formulate their own responses to life's greatest questions."--JoAnn L. Smith, North Central Bible College"An outstanding introductory textbook to philosophy. The best textbook I know to give freshmen an idea of what philosophy is."--Ran Lahay, Southern Methodist University"We are already using this book as a text, and we are enjoying it."--Martin E. Bayang, New Mexical State University"An outstanding introductory framework to many of the most important problems in philosophy. It is clear and simple--even my freshman can read it--yet never simplistic...Ties in well with many traditional theories."--Richard M. Wolters, Doane College"An excellent statement of the basic problems of philosophy, clear enough to be accessible to beginners but sufficiently sophisticated to challenge the intellectually ambitious."--Ciaran P. Cronin, Grinnell College"A lucid introduction to basic philosophical problems as they may come to mind in adolescence reflective moments in adult life."--Naomi Zuck, Empire State College"A very graspable introduction to epistemological, ethical, and metaphysical issues."-Paul Jensen, Augustana College"An excellent and accessible introduction to the pressing issues of philosophy."--Andrew s. Beedle, University of Connecticut"Nagel's little philosophical primer serves as a great way to investigate young mind's thinking about classical dilemmas in the field."--Martin Kettelhut, Temple University"The chapters on death and justice are quite good! It is a good, easy to read introduction to philosophy."-- Patricia DeGuzman, Natick High School"I found this to be an excellent introduction to the study of philosophy for persons with no philosophical background at all."--Robert M. Fowler, University of Colorado"Chapters on death and justice are quite good! A good, easy-to-read introduction to philosophy."--Patricia de Guzman, Natick High School, Natick MA"I've always liked Nagel's introspective style, and his concision. But I was worried that his reflections went over the heads of beginning students. This book convinces me he is capable of reaching the uninitiated. I'm anxious to try it out."--Brian Skelly, Western New England College"Excellent introduction to philosophy, shedding light on many problems."--Janine Randal, Angelo State University"Extremely well written....Will be a great introduction to Philosophy for high school students. It clearly outlines the various matters studied or questioned."--Sally M. Gething, Salpointe Catholic High School"Effective not only in introducing philosophy but in showing what questions a philosopher grapples with."--Susan L. Hawkins, Hillcrest High School"Introduces issues very well. So often philosophy texts attempt to answer questions before they have been asked by the student. Now, hopefully, students will genuinely ask the questions."--William C. Gruen, Jr., University of Louisville"I am considering using this basic philosophy text as an adjuvant to a basic writing course. It would serve as a means of getting students to 'think' about subject matter on which to write."--Benjamin A.L. CLick III, Pennsylvania State University"I found it to be a well-written and thought provoking book."--Michael McCardwell, Henry County High School"If for the umpteenth time you are asked 'What philosophy is all about,' tell him or her to read this book."--Philosophica"Students found [it] both helpful and easy to understand."--W. Mark Tew, Judson College"Clearly written and to the point. An excellent introduction to the subject."--J. Secada, University of Virginia"Pithy, straightforward and eminently readable!"--Gerald Vision, Temple University"A lovely book--clarity and elegance are most needed for beginning students, whose own abilities to clarify and distinguish are least developed. It is unusual to find a first-rate academic philosopher addressing this problem--Nagel succeeds."--M.B. Montgomery, Drexel University"In philosophy questions are more important than answers. Professor Nagel not only asks the right questions, but his book is written in such a way that we keep on asking them. This is no small achievement."--William F. Maestri, St. Joseph Seminary College"A beautiful little book. Nagel does an excellent job of introducing central issues in an ahistorical manner."--Kraig L. Kurtz, Lindenwood College"A wonderful contribution to the teaching of philosophy, it is the perfect addition to one's intro text."--Richard Double, Purdue University"Finally, an introduction to philosophy that today's underclassmen can read, that doesn't cheat on either the questions or the answers. Excellent."--Mark Wade, Friends Bible College"His style is clear and free of technical terms, and the book should appeal to those who know little or nothing of the discipline."--Library Journal"A useful short book, to be used in conjunction with other texts in a freshmen's introduction....I will definitely adopt."--A.P. Palma, Indiana University"Will prove to have a long and useful life."--APA Newsletter on the Teaching of Philosophy"I am using the book in conjunction with some classical texts. Chapters from Nagel's book have proved to be valuable introductions to the problems dealt with in the other texts. I intend to use Nagel's book again."--Richard Hudelson, University of Minnesota"Very concise and challenging for the more advanced students."--Vito Victor, Monterey Peninsula College"I've used this book several times now. I admire its directness, clarity, and substance. Even better I can now report that it works in getting students to understand philosophical issues by thinking about them."--Russell B. Goodman, The University of New Mexico"Simply terrific for high school students."--Lou Parrotta, Rome Catholic High School, Rome, NY

Thomas Nagel is Professor of Philosophy and Law at New York University. His previous books are The View From Nowhere, Mortal Questions and The Possibility of Altruism.

Should the hard questions of philosophy matter to ordinary people? In this down-to-earth, nonhistorical guide, Thomas Nagel, the distinguished author of Mortal Questions and The View From Nowhere, brings philosophical problems to life, revealing in vivid, accessible prose why they have continued to fascinate and baffle thinkers across the centuries. Arguing that the best way to learn about philosophy is to tackle its problems head-on, Nagel turns to some of the most important questions we can ask about ourselves. Do we really have free will? Why should we be moral? What is the relation between our minds and our brains? Is there life after death? How should we feel about death? In a universe so vast, billions of light years across, can anything we do with our lives really matter? And does it matter if it doesn't matter? These are perennial questions we ask about the human condition, and Nagel probes them, and others like them, thoughtfully, clearly, and with humor. He states his own opinions freely but with refreshing modesty, always leaving it open to readers to entertain other solutions, encouraging them to think for themselves. Nagel is eminently qualified to introduce the uninitiated to the world of philosophical inquiry. Singled out by the Chicago Literary Review as "one of the sharpest analytic philosophers in America today," he has been praised in the New York Times Book Review for writing "sensitively and elegantly" and in the Times Literary Supplement for his ability, rare among philosophers, to combine "profundity with clarity and simplicity of expression." Never rarefied, What Does It All Mean? opens our eyes to a side of the world we rarely consider, demonstrating that philosophy is no empty study but an indispensable key to understanding our lives. It challenges us to think hard and clearly, to ask questions, to try out ideas and raise possible objections to them--in short, to become philosophers ourselves.

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