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A review by jhoover
The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell
2.0
Mostly upset because the title is very much a misnomer. The book is not an overview of problems in philosophy but “Betrand Russells thoughts on Epistemology”. Which is fine, but Id like a better idea of what I was in for. Any other branch of philosophy is obviously not worth thinking about according to Russell.
The work also seems like a polemic against Continental Philosophy in popular form. Russell wil give a bastardized and very brief view of Kant, Hegel, etc and then dismiss them quickly.
Thats not to say there arent interesting ideas. I thought his knowledge by description and summary of knowledge by induction was good. I think he gets fuzzier as he goes along and doesnt really have a convincing argument for how we actually know truths that doesnt reduce into a circular argument (in my understanding at least, Im open to rereading that section).
The last chapter I thought was by far the best and obviously the most passionate. I can totally buy some of these reasons for following philosophy. Interesting he seems to let go of his very logical and mathematical approach in that chapter and speak in almost spiritual terms, which I thought was interesting and a breath of fresh air.
The work also seems like a polemic against Continental Philosophy in popular form. Russell wil give a bastardized and very brief view of Kant, Hegel, etc and then dismiss them quickly.
Thats not to say there arent interesting ideas. I thought his knowledge by description and summary of knowledge by induction was good. I think he gets fuzzier as he goes along and doesnt really have a convincing argument for how we actually know truths that doesnt reduce into a circular argument (in my understanding at least, Im open to rereading that section).
The last chapter I thought was by far the best and obviously the most passionate. I can totally buy some of these reasons for following philosophy. Interesting he seems to let go of his very logical and mathematical approach in that chapter and speak in almost spiritual terms, which I thought was interesting and a breath of fresh air.