Nagel says, "Why is the life of a mouse not absurd? The orbit of the moon is not absurd either, but that involves no strivings or aims at all. A mouse, however, has to work to stay alive. Yet he is not absurd, because he lacks the capacities for __________________ and __________________ that would enable him to see that he is only a mouse."
A) self-consciousness; self-transcendence
B) meaningful actions; meaningful doubts
C) personal relations; social transactions
D) abstract thinking; relations with God

Question

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According to Nagel, the reason why the life of a mouse is not absurd is that it lacks the capacities for self-consciousness and self-transcendence that would enable it to see that it is only a mouse. In other words, the mouse does not have the ability to reflect on its own existence or to go beyond its own limitations, and therefore it does not experience the sense of meaninglessness or absurdity that humans sometimes feel. Choice A is the only option that includes both self-consciousness and self-transcendence, which are the two key capacities that Nagel believes are necessary for experiencing absurdity.

Nagel Says, "Why Is the Life of a Mouse Not