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Work #560 · Mid

The View from Nowhere

Thomas Nagel
1986 · English
Analytic philosophy · American analytic philosophy

Nagel's 1986 systematic philosophy of subjective-objective duality — the irreducible tension between the two viewpoints

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute The View from Nowhere (Mid)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency None
Observer · Moral Authority Reason
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

The View from Nowhere

The temporal tension between subjective and objective time.

Space

The View from Nowhere

The space of subjective-objective duality.

Matter

The View from Nowhere

The embodied subjective person and the objectified physical world.

Observer

The View from Nowhere

Central — the irreducible tension between subjective and objective viewpoints.

Energy

The View from Nowhere

Energies of holding subjective-objective tension.

Information

The View from Nowhere

Subjective-objective duality framework.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

The View from Nowhere

Nagel's non-reductive realism in continuing dialogue with reductive naturalism (Dennett) and idealist anti-realism.