Podcasts Culture I Learned Nothing ILN EP 40: What Is It Like To Be A Bat?

ILN EP 40: What Is It Like To Be A Bat?

Published: April 28, 2018, 4 a.m.

Pat was feeling misunderstood so Ben put things in perspective by asking what it would be like for Pat to be a bat. This insane question was put forth in 1974 by philosopher of mind Thomas Nagel to illustrate how unique & intractable the issue of subjective experience is in the face of scientific scrutiny. How can we possibly know what it's like to shriek in front of us to navigate our world while flying around as a furious, blind monster. Nagel's answer: We can't.