The Problems Of Philosophy, by Bertrand Russell :: The Problems Of Philosophy Essays

The value of Philosophy is, in fact, to be sought largely in its uncertainty.The man who has no impregnate of Philosophy goes through life imprisoned in theprejudices derived from common signified, from the habitual mental pictures of his age orhis nation, and from the convictions which withstand grown up in his fountainhead without theco-operation of his give reason. Bertrand Russell, The Problems ofPhilosophy.Philosophy is commonly conceit of as an activity reserved for Oxbridge high-brows or a sort of intellectual table-tennis indulged in by the Ancient Greeksto mend the m away before television came along. Russell suggests that itmay actually serve a purpose for everyone.In the first line, Russell is clearly contrasting his own belief in the in presentntuncertainty of philosophy with the attitude of those people who dedicate theirlives to a search for the right theory, in an attempt to understand thetruth somewhat humans nature. He argues that, were a philosopher to wr ite theperfect, unanswerable theory, the solution to life, the universe and everything,then philosophy would itself become responsible for inducing the very mental indolence which it should answer us to avoid.Disagreement and debate amongst the adherents of rival theories is, moreover,essential to the health of philosophy. Just as m each major advances of scienceare catalysed by war, so the great intellectual insights are sparked bydiscussion. If there were universal agreement on one philosophical theory, thenall further thought would be rendered useless. (See p.319, Small World by DavidLodge what matters in the field of critical practice is not truth butdifference. If everybody were convinced by your arguments, they would have to dothe same as you and then there would be no satisfaction in doing it.)Russell talks of three different factors involved in the physical composition of prejudice. severally is considered in detail below.The first type of prejudice is derived from common sense. This is interestingit appears that Russell is suggesting that common sense is to be avoided. TheConcise Oxford Dictionary defines common sense as sound, practical sense,especially in everyday matters. In theory, any sound sense is to be welcomed,where appropriate the distinction to be made here is between applying commonsense to mundane problems, which Russell would certainly not advise against, andtaking it out of context as a set of rules which can be followed without anyfurther thought, no matter what the circumstances. For example, if you arefeeling hungry, and you are holding a biscuit, then a philosophical debate isnot necessary to buy the farm the conclusion that you eat the biscuit its common sense.The Problems Of Philosophy, by Bertrand Russell The Problems Of Philosophy EssaysThe value of Philosophy is, in fact, to be sought largely in its uncertainty.The man who has no tincture of Philosophy goes through life imprisoned in theprejudices derived from common se nse, from the habitual beliefs of his age orhis nation, and from the convictions which have grown up in his mind without theco-operation of his deliberate reason. Bertrand Russell, The Problems ofPhilosophy.Philosophy is commonly thought of as an activity reserved for Oxbridge high-brows or a sort of intellectual table-tennis indulged in by the Ancient Greeksto while the time away before television came along. Russell suggests that itmay actually serve a purpose for everyone.In the first line, Russell is clearly contrasting his own belief in the inherentuncertainty of philosophy with the attitude of those people who dedicate theirlives to a search for the right theory, in an attempt to understand thetruth about human nature. He argues that, were a philosopher to write theperfect, unanswerable theory, the solution to life, the universe and everything,then philosophy would itself become responsible for inducing the very mentallaziness which it should help us to avoid.Disagreement and debate between the adherents of rival theories is, moreover,essential to the health of philosophy. Just as many major advances of scienceare catalysed by war, so the great intellectual insights are sparked bydiscussion. If there were universal agreement on one philosophical theory, thenall further thought would be rendered useless. (See p.319, Small World by DavidLodge what matters in the field of critical practice is not truth butdifference. If everybody were convinced by your arguments, they would have to dothe same as you and then there would be no satisfaction in doing it.)Russell talks of three different factors involved in the formation of prejudice.Each is considered in detail below.The first type of prejudice is derived from common sense. This is interestingit appears that Russell is suggesting that common sense is to be avoided. TheConcise Oxford Dictionary defines common sense as sound, practical sense,especially in everyday matters. In theory, any sound sense is to be wel comed,where appropriate the distinction to be made here is between applying commonsense to mundane problems, which Russell would certainly not advise against, andtaking it out of context as a set of rules which can be followed without anyfurther thought, no matter what the circumstances. For example, if you arefeeling hungry, and you are holding a biscuit, then a philosophical debate isnot required to reach the conclusion that you eat the biscuit its common sense.