CH. XV: The Value Of Philosophy By Bertrand Russell
In the Article “Problems of Philosophy CH. XV The Value of Philosophy,” Bertrand Russell talks about the value of the philosophy and why it should be studied. The author first distinguishes between science and philosophy. He argues that science seeks for definite knowledge whereas philosophy aims at the achievement of knowledge through questioning. With respect to definite answers, the value of the philosophy appears in its uncertainty. Many questions raised by philosophers are of the profoundest interest to our spiritual life and insoluble to the human intellect. Moreover, Philosophic questions have a value through the greatness of the objects which it contemplates and the freedom from distinguishing personal interest. Russell believes that
the knowledge depending on the private world of instinctive interests is dogmatic and unreliable. Such mind often lead to prejudice derived from common sense and contemptuous rejection to unfamiliar possibilities. The way to let in the outside world and enlarges out interest is through philosophic contemplation. It involves the enlargement of Self. However, the self should not take it as it is. It should adopt to the characters which it finds in its objects instead of wish in advance that its objects should have any characters. In another way, it means that the growth of self should start from the not-self. Through the infinity of the universe and the greatness of not-self, the self can achieve some share in infinity. Furthermore, Russell rejects the attempt that forces the universe into conformity with what we find in ourselves. The example of Protagoras view that “Man is the measure of all things” is clearly declined. He thinks that things depending upon habit, self-interest, or desire distort the object and hence impair the knowledge. It is to say that Russell believes that the material object exists outside of the mind. This is an opposition to the idealist view which believes that reality is constructed in human mind.
the knowledge depending on the private world of instinctive interests is dogmatic and unreliable. Such mind often lead to prejudice derived from common sense and contemptuous rejection to unfamiliar possibilities. The way to let in the outside world and enlarges out interest is through philosophic contemplation. It involves the enlargement of Self. However, the self should not take it as it is. It should adopt to the characters which it finds in its objects instead of wish in advance that its objects should have any characters. In another way, it means that the growth of self should start from the not-self. Through the infinity of the universe and the greatness of not-self, the self can achieve some share in infinity. Furthermore, Russell rejects the attempt that forces the universe into conformity with what we find in ourselves. The example of Protagoras view that “Man is the measure of all things” is clearly declined. He thinks that things depending upon habit, self-interest, or desire distort the object and hence impair the knowledge. It is to say that Russell believes that the material object exists outside of the mind. This is an opposition to the idealist view which believes that reality is constructed in human mind.