'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.
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Contents
Introduction by John Skorupski vii
Preface xvii
1 Appearance and Reality 1
2 The Existence of Matter 7
3 The Nature of Matter 13
4 Idealism 19
5 Knowledge by Acquaintance and Knowledge
by Description 25
6 On Induction 33
7 On Our Knowledge of General Principles 39
8 How A Priori Knowledge is Possible 46
9 The World of Universals 52
10 On Our Knowledge of Universals 58
11 On Intuitive Knowledge 64
vi CONTENTS
12 Truth and Falsehood 69
13 Knowledge, Error, and Probable Opinion 76
14 The Limits of Philosophical Knowledge 82
15 The Value of Philosophy 89
Appendix: Foreword to the German
Translation 95
Bibliographical Note 97
Further Reading 99
Index 101
