A surname, most famously associated with Thomas Nagel, a prominent American philosopher known for his work on consciousness and the subjective nature of experience.
From German 'Nagel' meaning 'nail,' a common occupational surname for nail-makers or nail-smiths. The -el ending indicates a craftsperson, similar to English '-er' endings.
Thomas Nagel's 1974 paper 'What Is It Like to Be a Bat?' became one of the most influential philosophy papers ever written by asking a seemingly silly question—how would you ever know what a bat's experience actually feels like?—which completely changed how scientists think about consciousness.
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