Bertrand Russell

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The attempt to conceive imaginatively a better ordering of human society than the destructive and cruel chaos in which mankind has hitherto existed is by no means modern: it is at least as old as Plato, whose "Republic" set the model for the Utopias of subsequent philosophers. Whoever contemplates the world in the light of an ideal, whether what he seeks be intellect, or art, or love, or simple happiness, or all together, must feel a great sorrow in the evils that men needlessly allow to continue, and, if he be a man of force and vital energy, an urgent desire to lead men to the realization of the good which inspires his creative vision.It is this desire which has been the primary force moving the pioneers of Socialism and Anarchism, as it moved the inventors of ideal commonwealths in the past. In this there is nothing new. What is new in Socialism and Anarchism, is that close relation of the ideal to the present sufferings of men, which has enabled powerful political movements to grow out of the hopes of solitary thinkers. It is this that makes Socialism and Anarchism important, and it is this that makes them dangerous to those who batten, consciously or unconsciously upon the evils of our present order of society.

Lev Tolstoj utverzhdal kogda-to, chto vse neschastlivye semi neschastny po-raznomu, a vse schastlivye - schastlivy odinakovo. Etu mysl mozhno rasprostranit i v tselom a ljudej i dazhe na obschestvo, a primery schastlivykh ljudej dajut nadezhdu, chto schaste vpolne dostizhimo pri vypolnenii rjada uslovij. Bertran Rassel vzjal na sebja smelost razobrat abstraktnoe ponjatieschastja na sostavljajuschie i dokazat, chto v pervuju ochered schaste zavisit ot lichnykh usilij cheloveka i lish potom - ot vneshnikh obstojatelstv.

The Problems of Philosophy, Bertrand Russell's enduring masterpiece, invites readers on an intellectual odyssey through the fundamental inquiries that have intrigued humanity for centuries. Russell skillfully introduces important theories of Plato, Aristotle, Ren Descartes, David Hume, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, and others to lay the foundation for philosophical inquiry by general readers and scholars alike. He frames philosophy as an ongoing pursuit marked by successive attempts to address fundamental questions: Can we prove the existence of an external world? Can we establish causality? Can we validate our generalizations? Can morality be objectively justified? Russell contends that philosophy, despite its endeavors, cannot definitively answer these questions, positing that its true value lies in the process of inquiry and the critical thinking it fosters. This classic primer serves as an accessible introduction to major philosophical achievements from ancient Greece to the twentieth century. This Warbler Classics edition includes an extensively researched, detailed biographical timeline.

One of the most blasphemous philosophical documents ever written, Bertrand Russell's "Why I Am Not a Christian" is an eloquent critique of religious beliefs and dogma. Originally delivered as a lecture on March 6, 1927, the essay has since become one of Russell's most famous works and a key text in the literature of atheism and skepticism. In it, Russell dismantles comfortable answers religion provides to questions of morality, justice, and the meaning of life-offering instead rational alternatives based on accountability, freedom, and consciousness. It has influenced generations of thinkers and has become a classic in the literature of secular philosophy.Together with "Why I Am Not a Christian," What I Believe stands as an eloquent expression of Russell's well-known atheism. The ideas he concisely encapsulates present a compelling refutation of religion and belief in favor of reasoned thought. A defining work, this remarkable text remains the most succinct and compelling introduction to Russell's philosophical outlook.This Warbler Classics edition includes an extensively researched, detailed biographical timeline.

Embark on an intellectual journey with "The Bertrand Russell Collection," a comprehensive anthology spanning the influential philosopher's groundbreaking works. From "The Analysis of Mind" to insightful essays on humanism, ethics, and society, this collection encapsulates Russell's brilliance and offers timeless reflections on reason, knowledge, and the complexities of the human experience. Explore the mind of one of the 20th century's greatest thinkers through his diverse and impactful writings.

Free Thought and Official Propaganda is a speech delivered in 1922 by Bertrand Russell on the importance of unrestricted freedom of expression in society, and the problem of the state and political class interfering in this through control of education, fines, economic leverage, and distortion of evidence. Russell starts out by describing the more common use of the term "free thought" to mean that one does not accept unquestioning belief in the popular religion of a region, or ideally of any religion at all. He notes that this is not allowed in any country at all, with the possible exception of China at that time. One could not, for example, immigrate to the US without swearing they are not an anarchist or polygamous, and once inside must not be communist. In Great Britain he must not express disbelief in Christianity, in Japan of Shinto. Russell notes that countries like these may think of themselves as having freedom of expression, but that some ideas are so obviously "monstrous and immoral" that such tolerance does not apply to them. But, he points out, this is exactly the same view that allowed torture during the Inquisition, that all ideas must be allowed to be expressed, no matter how obviously bad. This repression by the political class, Russell notes, is not limited to religion. Believers in free love or communism are treated even worse.

In The Problems of Philosophy, Bertrand Russell attempts to create a brief and accessible guide to the problems of philosophy. He introduces philosophy as a repeating series of (failed) attempts to answer the same questions: Can we prove that there is an external world? Can we prove cause and effect? Can we validate any of our generalizations? Can we objectively justify morality? He asserts that philosophy cannot answer any of these questions and that any value of philosophy must lie elsewhere than in offering proofs to these questions. Focusing on problems he believes will provoke positive and constructive discussion, Russell concentrates on knowledge rather than metaphysics: If it is uncertain that external objects exist, how can we then have knowledge of them but by probability. There is no reason to doubt the existence of external objects simply because of sense data. A lively and still one of the best introductions to philosophy, this book is a closer reading for students, specialists and casual reading for the general public.

In The Analysis of Mind, one of his most influential and exciting books, Russell presents an intriguing reconciliation of the materialism of psychology with the antimaterialism of physics. Bertrand Russell unfolds his ideas on consciousness, instinct and habit, desire and feeling, introspection, perception, sensations and images, memory, words and meaning, belief, and characteristics of mental phenomenon. Throughout, he explores the mystery of the mind, and proposes that there exists a fundamental material of which both mind and matter exist. "The stuff of which the world of our experience is composed is, in my belief, neither mind nor matter, but something more primitive than either." He wrote. "Both mind and matter seem to be composite, and the stuff of which they are compounded lies in a sense between the two, in a sense above them both, like a common ancestor." It remains one of the most important works on the philosophy of the mind.

Written in response to the devastation of World War I, Why Men Fight lays out Bertrand Russell's ideas on war, pacifism, reason, impulse, and personal liberty. Russell argues that when individuals live passionately, they will have no desire for war or killing. Conversely, excessive restraint or reason causes us to live unnaturally and with hostility toward those who are unlike ourselves. In this book Russell talks about the reasons for wars. He talks about institutions that shape the life of an individual such as schools, state, marriage, churches, etc. and how they contribute to wars. And he concludes how to change the state of affairs so that wars can be prevented. This book is a must read for all with an intent to make this world peaceful and a better place.

Five Books in One This collection combines five of Bertrand Russell's most recognized works into one convenient volume. Included in this book: - The Problems of Philosophy - The Analysis of Mind - Why Men Fight - Free Thought and Official Propaganda - Political Ideals In The Problems of Philosophy, Bertrand Russell attempts to create a brief and accessible guide to the problems of philosophy. He introduces philosophy as a repeating series of (failed) attempts to answer the same questions: Can we prove that there is an external world? Can we prove cause and effect? Can we validate any of our generalizations? Can we objectively justify morality? He asserts that philosophy cannot answer any of these questions and that any value of philosophy must lie elsewhere than in offering proofs to these questions. Focusing on problems he believes will provoke positive and constructive discussion, Russell concentrates on knowledge rather than metaphysics: If it is uncertain that external objects exist, how can we then have knowledge of them but by probability. There is no reason to doubt the existence of external objects simply because of sense data. In The Analysis of Mind, one of his most influential and exciting books, Russell presents an intriguing reconciliation of the materialism of psychology with the antimaterialism of physics. Bertrand Russell unfolds his ideas on consciousness, instinct and habit, desire and feeling, introspection, perception, sensations and images, memory, words and meaning, belief, and characteristics of mental phenomenon. Throughout, he explores the mystery of the mind, and proposes that there exists a fundamental material of which both mind and matter exist. "The stuff of which the world of our experience is composed is, in my belief, neither mind nor matter, but something more primitive than either." Why Men Fight, written in response to the devastation of World War I, Why Men Fight lays out Bertrand Russell's ideas on war, pacifism, reason, impulse, and personal liberty. Russell argues that when individuals live passionately, they will have no desire for war or killing. Conversely, excessive restraint or reason causes us to live unnaturally and with hostility toward those who are unlike ourselves. In this book Russell talks about the reasons for wars. He talks about institutions that shape the life of an individual such as schools, state, marriage, churches, etc. and how they contribute to wars. And he concludes how to change the state of affairs so that wars can be prevented. Free Thought and Official Propaganda is a speech delivered in 1922 by Bertrand Russell on the importance of unrestricted freedom of expression in society, and the problem of the state and political class interfering in this through control of education, fines, economic leverage, and distortion of evidence. Political Ideals was written during the upheaval of World War I. It is, in many ways, a statement of Russell's beliefs, a declaration of the ideas that influenced his thinking on the major events of the 20th century. In this sense, it is essential reading for every student of this great philosopher. Bertrand Arthur William Russell was a British mathematician, philosopher, logician, and public intellectual. He had a considerable influence on mathematics, logic, set theory, linguistics, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, computer science and various areas of analytic philosophy, especially philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of language, epistemology, and metaphysics. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950 "in recognition of his varied and significant writings in which he champions humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought."

Political Ideals was written during the upheaval of World War I. It is, in many ways, a statement of Russell's beliefs, a declaration of the ideas that influenced his thinking on the major events of the 20th century. In this sense, it is essential reading for every student of this great philosopher. Russell criticizes both capitalism and socialism based on his strong conviction that everything of value comes ultimately from the individual. The only true aim of politics, he says, is to give free play, as far as possible, to every person's natural creativity. This means that political systems should be designed to curb the deadening forces of acquisition, power, and convention, all of which tend to stifle individual creative impulses. Russell suggests that in an ideal system there would be autonomy within each politically important group and the principle of employee-ownership and self-governance within businesses would be the norm. Government would serve only as a neutral authority to decide questions between the various self-governing groups.

The Problems of Philosophy is a 1912 book by the philosopher Bertrand Russell, in which the author attempts to create a brief and accessible guide to the problems of philosophy. He introduces philosophy as a repeating series of (failed) attempts to answer the same questions: Can we prove that there is an external world? Can we prove cause and effect? Can we validate any of our generalizations? Can we objectively justify morality? He asserts that philosophy cannot answer any of these questions and that any value of philosophy must lie elsewhere than in offering proofs to these questions. Focusing on problems he believes will provoke positive and constructive discussion, Russell concentrates on knowledge rather than metaphysics: If it is uncertain that external objects exist, how can we then have knowledge of them but by probability. There is no reason to doubt the existence of external objects simply because of sense data. Russell guides the reader through his famous 1910 distinction between knowledge by acquaintance and knowledge by description and introduces important theories of Plato, Aristotle, Ren Descartes, David Hume, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and others to lay the foundation for philosophical inquiry by general readers and scholars alike. In the following pages I have confined myself in the main to those problems of philosophy in regard to which I thought it possible to say something positive and constructive, since merely negative criticism seemed out of place. For this reason, theory of knowledge occupies a larger space than metaphysics in the present volume, and some topics much discussed by philosophers are treated very briefly, if at all. - Bertrand Russell, Preface of The Problems of Philosophy (wikipedia.org)