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Background
Ernest Nagel was born November 16, 1901 in current day Czech Republic before coming to America when he was ten years old (Columbia). He grew up and lived exclusively in New York. Here he would also spend his academic career at Columbia University(Suppes). Nagel was a philosopher of science, with concentrations on the foundations, methods, and implications of science. He was the recipient of numerous honors, including his election into the National Academy of Sciences(Suppes). -
US Citizenship
In 1919 Nagel became a naturalized citizen.(Suppes) -
Attended College of the City of New York
In 1923 he received a Bachelor of Science from the College of the City of New York. -
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Attends Columbia University
Ernest Nagel began his long tenure at Columbia University as a student. In 1925 he earned his Master's Degree in philosophy and in 1931, a Ph.D. -
Earns PhD from Columbia University
Nagel completed his PhD in philosophy at the University of Columbia in 1931. -
Gödel's Proof
In 1931 Kurt Gödel published his incompleteness theorem. The theorem states that in any reasonable mathematical system there will always be true statements that cannot be proved. The proof itself is quite intense and difficult to digest but it’s philosophical implications did not go unnoticed. Alongside James Newman, Nagel authored an accessible explanation to scholars and non-specialists of the main ideas and implications of Gödel's discovery.(Bellos) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4pQbo5MQOs -
Authors The Structure of Science
The Structure of Science sums up and shapes into a coherent pattern three decades worth of achievements in American philosophy. Nagel explores the nature of scientific inquiry, drawing from his deep knowledge of natural and social science. (wiki)
“The result is an impressively balanced consolidation of the contrasting insights of two rival traditions of scientific philosophy, logical positivism and pragmatism (Abelson).” -
Legacy
Ernest Nagel was a major contributor to philosophy and the University of Columbia throughout his life. The years he spent teaching and lecturing the students at Columbia have continued to have impact throughout science and philosophy communities. Nagel passed away September 20 1985 in New York. He had two sons, Alexander and Sidney, professors in mathematics and physics respectively.
