Bill Vallicella of Maverick Philosopher reflects on an interesting and honest admission in The Last Word by Thomas Nagel in “Nagel on Evolutionary Naturalism and the Fear of Religion.” I recommend that you read it.

A young Jesuit professor that I had argued that moral considerations largely drive men’s theoretical commitments. I rejected his view at the time, thinking that it was bad form to psychoanalyze disagreement. The older I get, the more I think that he was right. Of course, we must deal with arguments rationally by examining the matters being discussed. Nonetheless, when I think about the arguer rather than simply addressing the argument, non-rational motivations may explain what often seems to me inexplicable.

Posted by Joseph on Sunday, November 14, Anno Domini 2010
Philosophy | Metaphysics • Comments