In this important new book Nagel, one of the most distinguished philosophers writing in English today, presents a sustained defence of reason against the attacks of subjectivism. He offers systematic rebuttals of relativistic claims with respect to language, logic, science, and ethics.

Thomas Nagel is not one of those philosophers afraid to tackle the big issues. He also, rather refreshingly, has what Ludwig Wittgenstein once called "the courage to write a short book". ... I recommend Nagel's book as the intellectual equivalent of a cold shower. ... I find myself persuaded by Nagel that all attempts to subjectivise or relativise logic must enmesh themselves in contraditions.

"...[a] subtle, compact, and forceful book....The Last Word is a work of philosophical reflection...a significant contribution to the culture wars of our time."--New York Review of Books "...[a] subtle, compact, and forceful book....The Last Word is a work of philosophical reflection...a significant contribution to the culture wars of our time."--New York Review of Books "Nagel's book is a ringing defense of the rationalist conception of reason and an uncompromising attack on the subjectivist conception.... Nagel applies his general anti-subjectivist argument in a number of areas, including language, logic, arithmetic and ethics....The case that Nagel presents in these chapters should disturb all those who have been lulled, or bludgeoned, into the flabby relativism that is so rampant in contemporary intellectual culture....Nagel's argument is not only correct, it is also urgent....The Last Word is a book that should be read and pondered in this golden age of subjectivism."--Colin McGinn, The New Republic "Thomas Nagel stands out among today's best philosophers in retaining closer links with the big puzzles and mysteries that first attract most people to philosophy. He has a livelier sense of their depth and power than is conspicuous elsewhere in the academic study of philosophy, and admirably resists the widespread tendency to deny a thing's existence because it is difficult or perhaps impossible to understand."--The Times Literary Supplement "...now comes Professor Nagel's fascinating, even brilliant, book..."--Commonweal "Recommended."--The Key Reporter "...[Nagel's] book, which is concise, spare, and well-argued, will prolong discussion by setting it on a new path....what he has to say is challenging, impressive, and thought-provoking."--International Philosophical Quarterly "How refreshing and intellectually stimulating it is to read a philosopher - and one as smart as Thomas Nagel - say a favorable word on behalf of Descartes."--First Things "...the combination of a question fundamental to all intellectual life, lucid writing, and intelligent argumentation warrants highly recommending The Last Word to a wide audience."--Review of Metaphysics

Thomas Nagel is Professor of Philosophy and Law at New York University. He is the author of The View from Nowhere, What Does It All Mean?, The Possibility of Altruism, Mortal Questions, Equality and Partiality, and Other Minds: Critical Essays, 1969-1994.