28 pages • 56 minutes read
What Is It Like to Be a Bat?
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Literary Devices
Contrast
Nagel utilizes the literary device of contrast to explore and emphasize his philosophical arguments. Contrast is a rhetorical device through which writers identify differences between two subjects, places, persons, things, or ideas. In his essay, Nagel contrasts the subjective experience of a human with that of a bat to emphasize the fundamental limitations of human knowledge and empathy. He states: “In so far as I can imagine this (which is not very far), it tells me only what it would be like for me to behave as a bat behaves. But that is not the question. I want to know what it is like for a bat to be a bat” (439). This brings to the fore the primary question of his essay—the subjective character of experience.
Diction
Diction refers to the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing. Nagel’s diction is academic, precise, and somewhat dense, reflecting the philosophical nature of his subject matter. For instance, he writes: “The fact that an organism has conscious experience at all means, basically, that there is something it is like to be that organism” (436). His use of formal, philosophical language underscores the seriousness and complexity of his topic. The diction contributes to the essay’s overall tone, reinforcing Nagel’s position as a philosopher engaging with questions about consciousness and subjective experience.
Metaphor
A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes an implicit, implied, or hidden comparison between two unrelated things that share some common characteristics. The bat in Nagel’s essay represents any fundamentally different consciousness from our own. Through this metaphor, Nagel questions subjectivity and consciousness, pushing readers to consider the inherent limitations in our ability to understand another’s subjective experience fully. He writes: “Even without the benefit of philosophical reflection, anyone who has spent some time in an enclosed space with an excited bat knows what it is to encounter a fundamentally alien form of life” (438). Through the bat, Nagel underscores the profound gap between human and non-human consciousness.
Socratic Method
The Socratic method is a form of dialogue based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and illuminate ideas. While not in a direct dialogue with another individual, Nagel uses a series of questions to guide the reader through his exploration of consciousness. For instance, he asks: “What Is It Like to Be a Bat?” and additionally discusses what it is like for a bat to be a bat. Such questions are central to the essay’s argument, pushing readers to question their own understanding of consciousness and empathetic capabilities.
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