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Ernest Nagel (1901 – 1985): Birth
Ernest Nagel was born on November 16, 1901 in the town of Nové Mesto, Bohemia (now the Czech Republic).
References:
SUPPES, PATRICK. “BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR: ERNEST NAGEL: NOVEMBER 16, 1901—SEPTEMBER 20, 1985.” The Journal of Philosophy, vol. 65
https://www.nap.edu/read/4548/chapter/14
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Ernest Nagel (1901 – 1985): Thoughts on the Scientific Method
Nagel, along with colleague and teacher Morris Cohen, wrote "An Introduction to Logic and the Scientific Method," which explores the logical principles of the scientific method and emphasizes the role of the hypothesis when performing research experiments.
References:
Cohen, Morris R., and Ernest Nagel." An Introduction to Logic and the Scientific Method." Harcourt, Brace and Co. 1934 -
Ernest Nagel (1901 – 1985): Naturalism
Nagel attended the annual meeting of the Eastern Division of the American Philosophical Association and was elected as president. In his presidential address, he defines naturalism as "a generalized account of the cosmic scheme and of man's place in it, as well as a logic of inquiry."
References:
Nagel, Ernest. “Naturalism Reconsidered.” Proceedings and Addresses of the American Philosophical Association, vol. 28, 1954, p. 5., doi:10.2307/3129209. -
Ernest Nagel (1901 – 1985): Logic and Metaphysics
Nagel wrote "Logic Without Metaphysics" in support of a more naturalistic approach toward logic. He denied the necessity of “logico-mathematical principles,” saying that they need to be understood corresponding to their function.
References:
Nagel, Ernest. "Logic without Metaphysics and Other Studies in the Philosophy of Science." Free Pr., 1957. -
Ernest Nagel (1901 – 1985): The Structure of Science
"The Structure of Science" is perhaps one of Nagel’s most famous works. Here, he examines the structure of scientific concepts and introduces the process of “reduction,” where one theory is absorbed into another. He emphasizes that logic can be used the same in all scientific fields by combining the differing terms and removing all of the ontological commitments.
References:
Nagel, Ernest. "The Structure of Science: Problems in the Logic of Scientific Explanation." Routledge & Kegan PaulLtd1961 -
Ernest Nagel (1901 – 1985): Death
Nagel died of pneumonia at the age of 83 on September 20, 1985 in New York City, New York.
References:
Belkin, Lisa. “ERNEST NAGEL, 83, PHILOSOPHER AND COLUMBIA TEACHER, DIES.” The New York Times , 1985, www.nytimes.com/1985/09/22/nyregion/ernest-nagel-83-philosopher-and-columbia-teacher-dies.html. -
References (Continued):
Black Label Logic. “Of Metaphysics and Morals.” Black Label Logic, 13 Oct. 2018,
blacklabellogic.com/2018/07/20/of-metaphysics-and-morals/. Guest. “How Naturalism Defeats Science As A Knowledge
Discipline.” Cross Examined.org | Christian Apologetics
Organization | Dr. Frank Turek, 23 May 2019,
crossexamined.org/how-naturalism-defeats-science-as-a-
knowledge-discipline/. -
References (Continued):
University, Carnegie Mellon. Nagel Lectures - Department of Philosophy - Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences - Carnegie Mellon University, www.cmu.edu/dietrich/philosophy/events/nagel-lectures/index.html. Feferman, Solomon. "GÖDEL, NAGEL, MINDS AND MACHINES."
web.stanford.edu/~davies/Symbsys100-Spring0708/Symbsys100-4-10-08-Feferman.pdf. -
References (Continued):
Harris, William. “How the Scientific Method Works.” HowStuffWorks Science, HowStuffWorks, 18 June 2020,
science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/scientific-experiments/scientific-method3.htm. Madden, Edward H. “The Structure of Scientific Thought: an Introduction to Philosophy of Science.” Amazon, Houghton Mifflin, 1961,
www.amazon.com/Structure-Science-Problems-Scientific-Explanation/dp/0710018827.
