What Is It Like to Be a Bat?
by Thomas Nagel
Mentioned once across 1 show · first heard Apr 2026 on Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard.
critical thinkingconsciousnessphilosophy
The general take
Michael Pollan brings up Thomas Nagel's 1970s essay "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?" as a definition he really appreciates, calling it wonderful. That's the extent of what was said about it—Pollan sees it favorably, but there's not much detail on why or what he actually thinks about the essay's ideas.
Who said what
Michael Pollan👍 Recommends
…discussing foundational philosophical work on consciousness and subjective experience
“Another definition that I like is Thomas Nagel, there's a philosopher who wrote a wonderful essay in the 70s called What Is It Like to Be a Bat?”
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard — Michael Pollan Returns (on consciousness)at 10:03
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