The Problems of Philosophy'Is there any knowledge in the world which is so certain that no reasonable man could doubt it?' Philosophy is the attempt to answer such ultimate questions, not carelessly and dogmatically, as we might deal with them in ordinary life, but critically, after analysing how and why the questions arise and clarifying the assumptions and concepts on which they are based. This classic work, first published in 1912, has never been supplanted as an approachable introduction to the theory of philosophical enquiry. It gives Russell's views on such subjects as the distinction between appearance and reality, the existence and nature of matter, idealism, knowledge by acquaintance and by description, induction, and the limits and value of philosophical knowledge. This edition includes an introduction by John Skorupski contextualizing Russell's work, and a guide to further reading. |
Contents
Introduction by John Skorupski Preface | |
Appearance and Reality | |
The Existence of Matter | |
The Nature of Matter | |
Idealism | |
Knowledge by Acquaintance and Knowledge by Description | |
On Induction | |
On Our Knowledge of General Principles | |
The World of Universals | |
On Our Knowledge of Universals | |
On Intuitive Knowledge | |
Truth and Falsehood | |
Knowledge Error and Probable Opinion | |
The Limits of Philosophical Knowledge | |
The Value of Philosophy | |
How A Priori Knowledge is Possible | |
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Common terms and phrases
A. N. Whitehead answer appears argument aware become belief is true Berkeley Bertrand Russell Bismarck called certainty chapter coherence colour connexion consider constitute corresponding deduced definite degree of self-evidence derivative knowledge Descartes Desdemona loves Cassio difficulty doubt empiricists evident example existence experience fact false German Empire Graham Priest Hence ideas important inductive principle inference instance instinctive beliefs intuitive knowledge involved judge judgement Julius Caesar Kant kind knowledge by acquaintance knowledge by description knowledge of things knowledge of truths law of contradiction Leibniz logical principles man’s matter means memory men are mortal mental merely mind mortal nature ourselves particular perceive physical objects physical space possible premisses priori knowledge probable opinion Problems of Philosophy proposition prove question real table reason regard relation Russell Russell's seems sensation sense sense-data Short Introduction so-and-so Socrates sort suppose theory thought universals value of philosophy word