Should the hard questions of philosophy matter to ordinary people In this down-to-earth, nonhistorical guide, Thomas Nagel, the distinguished author of Mortal Questions and The View From Nowhere, brings philosophical problems to life, revealing in vivid, accessible prose why they have continued to fascinate and baffle thinkers across the centuries. Arguing that the best way to learn about philosophy is to tackle its problems head-on, Nagel turns to some of the most important questions we can ask about ourselves. Do we really have free will Why should we be moral What is the relation between our minds and our brains Is there life after death How should we feel about death In a universe so vast, billions of light years across, can anything we do with our lives really matter And does it matter if it doesn't matter These are perennial questions we ask about the human condition, and Nagel probes them, and others like them, thoughtfully, clearly, and with humor. He states his own opinions fr