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Our Knowledge of the External World as a Field for Scientific Method in Philosophy   By: (1872-1970)

Our Knowledge of the External World as a Field for Scientific Method in Philosophy by Bertrand Russell

Bertrand Russell's "Our Knowledge of the External World as a Field for Scientific Method in Philosophy" is a thought-provoking exploration of the relationship between philosophy and science. Written at a time when philosophy was beginning to evolve into a more systematic discipline, this book challenges traditional philosophical methods and seeks to establish a more scientific approach.

Russell starts by critiquing the philosophical ideal of searching for absolute certainty. He argues that philosophers should abandon the pursuit of absolute certainty and instead focus on degrees of probability, aligning philosophy with the empirical method employed by the natural sciences. He suggests that a scientific approach can help clarify philosophical problems and enable progress to be made.

One of the highlights of this book is Russell's concept of knowledge by acquaintance versus knowledge by description. According to him, knowledge by acquaintance is immediate and intuitive, whereas knowledge by description relies on language and abstract concepts. Russell posits that philosophy should explore knowledge by acquaintance as a way to gain genuine insight into the external world, rather than being limited to knowledge by description.

Another key aspect of Russell's argument is his contention that philosophical problems can be solved through logical analysis. He claims that many philosophical debates arise from misunderstandings and linguistic confusion, and that clarity can be achieved by carefully analyzing language and logical structure. This emphasis on logical analysis offers a refreshing perspective on the field of philosophy, bringing it closer to the rigor and precision of science.

While it's undeniable that Russell's book presents a compelling case for incorporating scientific methods into philosophy, some readers may find his arguments to be overly reductionistic. In his attempt to align philosophy with science, Russell sometimes neglects the richness and complexity that philosophical inquiries bring to our understanding of the world. This raises the question of whether philosophical problems can truly be reduced to mere linguistic puzzles.

Despite these reservations, Bertrand Russell's "Our Knowledge of the External World as a Field for Scientific Method in Philosophy" serves as an important contribution to the ongoing conversation between philosophy and science. It challenges traditional philosophical approaches and offers a compelling argument for adopting scientific methods to advance the field. Whether one fully agrees with Russell's viewpoint or not, this book undoubtedly sparks fruitful contemplation and encourages readers to critically examine the methods and boundaries of philosophy.

First Page:

[ Transcriber's Notes:

Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as possible, including inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation. Some corrections of spelling and punctuation have been made. They are listed at the end of the text.

Italic text has been marked with underscores . Greek text has been transliterated and marked with ~tildes~. ]

OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXTERNAL WORLD

AS A FIELD FOR SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN PHILOSOPHY

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL PHILOSOPHY Second Edition. Demy 8vo, 12s. 6d. net.

THE ANALYSIS OF MIND Demy 8vo, 16s. net.

PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL RECONSTRUCTION Seventh Impression. Cr. 8vo, 5s. net; Limp, 3s. 6d. net.

ROADS TO FREEDOM: SOCIALISM, ANARCHISM AND SYNDICALISM Fourth Impression. Cr. 8vo, 5s. net; Limp, 3s. 6d. net.

THE PRACTICE AND THEORY OF BOLSHEVISM Second Impression. Cr. 8vo, 6s. net.

OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXTERNAL WORLD AS A FIELD FOR SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN PHILOSOPHY

BY BERTRAND RUSSELL, F.R.S

LONDON: GEORGE ALLEN & UNWIN LTD RUSKIN HOUSE, 40 MUSEUM STREET, W.C. 1

First published in 1914 by The Open Court Publishing Company

Reissued by George Allen & Unwin Ltd. 1922

PREFACE

The following lectures[1] are an attempt to show, by means of examples, the nature, capacity, and limitations of the logical analytic method in philosophy... Continue reading book >>




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