Is It Appropriate to Do Philosophical Anthropology From a Vision of no Place?

Abstract

Thomas Nagel’s main philosophical project is to search for an absolute vision or ab-solute viewpoint that avoids biases and tries to be impartial, which Nagel calls the view from nowhere. This paper examines the implications of such stance for philosophical anthropology. Specifically, a positive evaluation is made of Nagel’s strong rejection of naturalism and of his philosophical spirit of openness, honesty and courage, both which distinguishes him as a unique analytic philosopher that goes countercurrent. Also, the paper welcomes Nagel’s proposal that philosophy should address again substantive issues about the meaning of life from a reflection about the whole universe. However, a critique is made on the basis that the view from nowhere does not fully take into consideration the problem of other perspectives because it is too indebted, still, to science and to the observer’s perspective.