What Is It Like to Be a Bat?

This influential essay, What Is It Like to Be a Bat?, examines consciousness and its implications for understanding the mind-body problem.

This fiftieth anniversary edition of What Is It Like to Be a Bat? presents Thomas Nagel's seminal 1974 essay, which has profoundly shaped discussions surrounding consciousness in philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience. Nagel opens with the assertion that consciousness is what renders the mind-body problem truly intractable, prompting readers to consider the subjective nature of conscious experience. He argues that understanding what it is like for a creature to experience consciousness cannot be reduced to physical explanations, highlighting the limitations of reductionist theories in capturing the essence of mental phenomena.

The republication includes a new preface that reflects on the essay's origins and its lasting impact on the study of consciousness, particularly regarding nonhuman creatures. Nagel's work has sparked significant interest in the subjective experiences of various species, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging consciousness beyond human experience. The supplementary essay, “Further Thoughts: The Psychophysical Nexus,” expands on Nagel's ideas, suggesting that a more profound understanding of the mind-body problem may lie in exploring a connection between mental and neurophysiological states.

In this context, What Is It Like to Be a Bat? proposes a form of monism that transcends traditional physical and mental categories, advocating for the development of new concepts to bridge these domains. This exploration raises essential questions about the nature of reality and the relationship between consciousness and the physical world, making this edition a valuable resource for anyone interested in the complexities of the mind-body problem.