Book Description
First published in 1946, History of Western Philosophy went on to become the best-selling philosophy book of the twentieth century. A dazzlingly ambitious project, it remains unchallenged to this day as the ultimate introduction to Western philosophy. Providing a sophisticated overview of the ideas that have perplexed people from time immemorial, Russell's History of Western Philosophy offered a cogent précis of its subject. Of course this cannot be the only reason it ended up the best selling philosophy book of the twentieth century. Russell's book was 'long on wit, intelligence and curmudgeonly scepticism', as the New York Times noted, and it is this, coupled with the sheer brilliance of its scholarship, that has made Russell's History of Western Philosophy one of the most important philosophical works of all time.
Customer Reviews:
The Hobo Philosopher.......2007-09-09
This is clearly one of the best concise overviews of the major philosophers and what they had to say. It is right next to Will Durant's "The Story of Philosophy" on my reference shelf. Russell is witty, rational and easy to read. He makes many difficult concepts simple. This book is clearly written for the general reader. If you want to get difficult he has other books for the more advanced. I'm not trying to learn everything about all the philosophers but rather a little about some of the more famous. This book is perfect and objective. I am aware of many of Russell's controversial personal opinions and none are detectable in this work as far as I can determine. This is about classical philosophers and their philosophies. The general reader can not miss with this purchase.
Great, but not perfect.......2007-06-22
Russell's Introduction is a well-written, entertaining introduction to philosopy. It is very expansive, covering dozens of philosophers and philosophical movements/trends/systems/etc., and spanning thousands of years.
The only issue I have with this book is its exclusion of certain, lesser known philosophers whom I particularly like (a minour issue), and its sometimes superficial overviews of the philosophers within. That is why I suggest corroborating your knowledge with another, more in-depth introduction to philosophy, like Durant's Story of Philosophy.
Though it is not necessarily a criticism, I would like to point out that Russell's bias toward philosophers appears very strongly herein, so the reader should not expect a completely objective, neutral approach-- Russell is adamently opposed to many he deals with, such as Rousseau, Marx, Nietzsche, and other, less logic-inclined philosophers! Be warned: you are not likely to agree with his analysis all the time, and might at times find it somewhat inappropriate.
Overrated, underwhelming, and embarrasing inept.......2007-01-22
This will be less of a formal review and more of a personal take, more or less. Due to the fact I've read several intro books, as well as the primary source material, i have a well-informed frame of reference in the judgment of this book's merits.
Not long ago I said the following: Russell's A History of Western Philosophy? Patooey! The all time worst intro book i've ever read!
Granted, HWP is witty, no doubt. This is probably the book's only redeeming value, meriting it a star. Scattered throughout are gems like: "I would rather be reported by my bitterest enemy among philosophers than a friend innocent of philosophy."
On the other hand.... HWP is overrated, underwhelming, and embarrassingly inept for many reasons.
Overrated? The inadequacy and shallowness of most interpretations of the other philosophers' works is the biggest factor. Worst of all, the flippant comments are amusing, which provide entertainment in a conversation, but are utterly out of place when introducing a serious work. However, Russell's take on Leibniz is reliable, because he did his homework, occasionally.
Underwhelming? Russell, like a well trained 'whiggish', kneels deeply before the altar of John Locke, supposedly the champion of the 'modern liberal republican.' Despite admitting that Locke is an inferior philosopher to Spinoza, the godfather gets more press. Instead of philosophy in the HWP, we get self-serving propaganda.
Inept? Not once does Russell ever truly take a problem seriously. IThe complete failure to understand Kant, the philosopher of the enlightenment, as well as Schopenhauer (skipping the World as Will and Representation is not a good idea, Bertie) is a huge let-down. Predictably, he reads Nietzsche as a fascist (exposes his shoddy scholarship by linking him to Nazi socialism), whiffs on Dewey's brand of pragmatism, and for reasons unknown, devotes a chapter on Byron. More bizarre is the excessive attention paid to Catholic philosophy. I don't think the biographer Ray Monk even figured this out, either. Contemporaries like G.E. Moore gets a single mention and Wittgenstein, who he greatly respected, none.
Quite telling, Russell was shocked at the book's success - he produced it casually, intended it as a potboiler, compiled from the notes for the adult education classes he taught in the United States.
Conclusion: The shallowness, due to its intent to amuse, the odd bulk of space devoted to Christian philosophy, all combine to account for world-wide success for The History of Western Philosophy. It might be a good starter, but it also contributes to the sense that philosophy is not worth bothering with.
Alternatives: Copleston's series is lengthy, but thorough, and far superior. You can't go wrong with Durant's Story of Philosophy, although it is a bit dated. Luckily, Durant writes as well as any writer in English, making that book much more accessible to most. T. Z. Lavine's From Socrates to Sartre concentrates on much fewer big-names, but has a lively narrative that sensationalizes the content.
After you've read any one of these, then try Bryan Magee's books: Great Philosophers and Talking Philosophy where both consists of interviews with scholars. As for a contemporary account, Delacampagne's A History of Philosophy in the 20th century is a delicious read.
Classic though biased introduction to Western Philosophy.......2006-11-18
Bertrand Russell's classic history of Western thought continues to remain very popular, and rightly so. Though written several decades ago, it is still one of the best introductions to Western thought.
Of course many aspects of the book reflect Russell's biases. Russell tends to downplay some of the more metaphysical thinkers (such as Plotinus, Proclus and the Neo-Platonists), skips over medieval Islamic and Jewish philosophy almost without a thought, and omits many of the critically important 20th century movements including positivism, analytical philosophy (Wittgenstein is omitted for example) and continental philosophy. Russell also tends to exalt the scientific and mathematical influences on philosophy and also the empiricists of England, especially David Hume and Locke.
Still, this is a readable and useful overview of 20 centuries of Philosophy.
not too good.......2006-09-21
This book is perfunctory and extremely shallow. Russell's reductive reading of the tradition shows little insight. However, it is amusing at times, hence the star.
Book Description
Dedicated as few men have been to the life of reason, Bertrand Russell has always been concerned with the basic questions to which religion also addresses itself -- questions about man's place in the universe and the nature of the good life, questions that involve life after death, morality, freedom, education, and sexual ethics. He brings to his treatment of these questions the same courage, scrupulous logic, and lofty wisdom for which his other work as philosopher, writer, and teacher has been famous. These qualities make the essays included in this book perhaps the most graceful and moving presentation of the freethinker's position since the days of Hume and Voltaire.
"I am as firmly convinced that religions do harm as I am that they are untrue," Russell declares in his Preface, and his reasoned opposition to any system or dogma which he feels may shackle man's mind runs through all the essays in this book, whether they were written as early as 1899 or as late as 1954.
The book has been edited, with Lord Russell's full approval and cooperation, by Professor Paul Edwards of the Philosophy Department of New York University. In an Appendix, Professor Edwards contributes a full account of the highly controversial "Bertrand Russell Case" of 1940, in which Russell was judicially declared "unfit" to teach philosophy at the College of the City of New York.
Whether the reader shares or rejects Bertrand Russell's views, he will find this book an invigorating challenge to set notions, a masterly statement of a philosophical position, and a pure joy to read.
Customer Reviews:
shocked to discover Russell is an antisemite.......2007-09-14
I was extremely shocked and pained to read Russell's essay Ideas That Have Helped Mankind (as well as his writings on China) and discover that he was a flaming antisemite, and also something of a fool.
He writes: "We know what the Nazis did to Jews at Auschwitz. In mass cruelty, the expulsions of Germans ordered by the Russians fall not very far short of the atrocities perpetuated by the Nazis." Here he is skirting close to Holocaust denial, comparing post-war suffering of East Germans to genocide of 90% of Europe's Jews!
Elsewhere he lists the contributions of Jewish ethics to Western civilization as fanaticism and intolerance, and pretends that we got our belief that all men are created equal from the Stoics and the New Testament, with quotes that are mere paraphrases from the Hebrew Bible. He ignores all the Jewish lessons on equality and sacredness of every life including, Love thy neighbor as thyself. This is pure religious bigotry. What a hypocrite!
What is truly distressing is that his antisemitic comments from the book on China have been picked up and repeated by Chinese web sites today, so Russell's evil deeds are poisoning the present.
The Hobo Philosopher.......2007-09-09
Well, clearly if you are a Christian you will indubitably not relish this work nor would I see any reason why you would want to buy it. This book is for those who do not find Christianity appealing. Russell has many arguments that are logical and rational. This book is not difficult. It is not harsh. It is not mean spirited. I have read many others that are much more denigrating. Russell stays well above the shallow and vicious. He backs his arguments with history, science and logic. He is simple and to the point. This book is old. I bought my first copy back in the late 50's. But for those non-Christians and semi-Christians who are newly starting on the road to dubiousness and other possibilities, this book is as relevant as it ever was. Common sense doesn't really change all that much.
Why I am not a Christian is only one of several essays in this book. There is another great one on the Fate of Tom Paine and there is also a concise explanation of Russell personal beliefs. I've read this book several times and I will read it again, I'm sure.
The Fount Of Much Modern Criticism of Christianity.......2007-05-23
If you have read any of Richard Dawkins' or Sam Harris' works, you will recognize immediately, as did I, that essentially they have not progressed very far in the main from what Russell was saying at the turn of the 20th century.
Russell writes clearly and with wonderful wit. This book is easy to read, accessible at all levels and straight forward in its conclusions. I disagree with Russell on just about everything, but there is no denying the consistency of his thought nor his willingness to live consistently what that which he espouses.
His multiple marriages and numerous liaisons are absolutely convergent with his disapproval of any societal strictures against sexual freedom. He adamantly insists that all moral formulations only reflect the inherent desires of those who espouse them. This leads him to conclude that there is no absolute difference between the poet and the murderer and that it is illogical to build a statue to one and to consign the other to the realm of shame. To Russell, all human actions result from the combined causality of genetics and social conditioning and that we should no more look down upon one who is doing criminal things than we should look down upon a person who has the measles.
Like most radical liberals of his day Russell understood education as the realm of the Messiah. Education, under the guidance of enlightened thinkers such as himself, would radically alter and improve the human specie so that we could hope to live lives of love and freedom. Utopia beckons, we have only to embrace it rationally and pursue it energetically.
In all his brilliance Russell never comes to grips in these essays with his primary problem. He was totally lacking in grounds on which to criticize the rising stars of Hitler and Mussolini other than the fact that their methods and their conclusions differed from his own. He had no standard other than appeal to like sympathies in others to say that perhaps the manner and nature of those regimes was worse or better than his own. He cannot discover in the world of science why "what is" is either "what ought" or "what ought not" to be.
Read the book and discover the ultimate vacuity of a world view without external referrent.
A Must. Do read it, please........2007-04-24
Russell teaches to be atheist, a concept none can develop if left, unarmed since a boy, under the havy bombings of christian ideas.
THINK ABOUT IT.......2007-03-14
Isn't it interesting that Mr. Russell claims that all religions are shackles to the mind, but yet why is it that only Christians are attacked, even the title of this book is WHY I AM NOT A CHIRSTIAN, well if it's true that Mr., Russell believes this of all religions why is only Christianity attacked? Why is it that out of all the religious leaders in history of all the religions only Christ is made fun of, only Christ is repeatedly sought out to be disproved...Because HE IS THE TRUTH. The world and things of this world will never understand that. But lies will always attack the truth. Granted there are fanatics to every religion, but if you want to know the truth find a REAL Christian. They are rare to be found but there are still a few.
Book Description
"The books of Bertrand Russell are a modern substitute for the Bible."—Time
"The Conquest of Happiness, a primer of self-regeneration, is a most excellent book. This manual of systemized common sense, sane and forthright, should be read by every parent, teacher, minister and Congressman in the land."—Atlantic Monthly
Customer Reviews:
Too simple ideas for a philosopher.......2007-08-26
There are parts in the book I liked a lot like the emphasis on enthusiasm; and the causes of unhappiness were almost tragic in the sense how well they fit the present time. Russell's ideas about guilt and religion are very biased because of his well-known atheism. The new psychological studies show that one can not contrast reason and emotion. Guilt - like religiousness - is a positive factor in life and is related to well-being. When reading this book I cannot forget how selfishly he lived and how easily he changed his opinions without noticing it.
gloriously obvious.......2007-05-24
Essentially a self-help book written by the hypereminent philosopher Bertrand Russell. I have not read any other self-help books I don't think but from what I know this one is completely different: well-thought out, insightful and completely lacking in poppy answers. My real pleasure was getting an insight into Russell's way of thinking, his humour, his zest for life, his outlook which may seem simple or naive but is in my opinion far superior to most.
The book is very dated - from the 1930s. However the advice is not - in fact I have nothing but admiration for how far ahead of his time Russell was. Those few actually-dated passages only serve to endear the book more.
Heartily recommended. Contrary to popular belief, it often takes nothing short of genius to state the obvious, especially if an entire society is blinded to it. In the Conquest of Happiness, Russell does exactly that.
What a little gem.......2007-04-13
There is no way I would criticise Bertrand Russell's writing as he is just a master of prose and his writing is a purely joyful experience. I do though wish this book had a bit more to say about ways to generate happiness - it is split into the causes of unhappiness (quite a long list) and then the solutions (quite a short list). Its a great book and sticks to immutable facts about human beings. Timeless and valuable but life is hard work, a fact Mr Russell acknowledges from the first with the title using the word "conquest" - it is a conquest to become happy.
Note that it's a conquest, not a search.......2007-02-07
A refresher from a philosophical heavyweight... Please read this and you'll understand how this perspective on happiness can simplify and refocus your life and well... actually... lead to true "happiness," not just momentary contentedness. A classic for all times and all people.
Very sensible.......2007-01-16
That description could apply to everything Bertrand Russell ever wrote, I think. It is refreshing to read a respected philosopher's thoughts on this subject without having him try to convince you of some preconceived notion any child should know is untrue: like virture makes you happy even if you're being tortured to death. Russell is here writing for the ordinary person in good health and living in ordinary circumstances. I think you will find his thoughts on the subject as clear, well thought-out, and likely to be true as any of the latest research into positive psychology or "happiness."
Average customer rating:
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The Collected Papers of Bertrand Russell
K. Blackwell
Manufacturer: Routledge
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Book Description
"Contains a great deal of varied and interesting writing from Russell's first decade as an independent thinker the great themes of God and freewill, immortality and conscience are rehearsed with charm and penetration Russell shows an exuberant delight in ingenious reasoning, expressed in the fewest possible words and in the least encumbered way, that was to remain with him as a kind of trademark -- Anthony Quinton, The Times
Book Description
Bertrand Russell was born in 1872 and died in 1970. One of the most influential figures of the 20th century, he transformed philosophy and can lay claim to being one of the greatest philosophers of all time. He was a Nobel Prize winner for Literature and was imprisoned several times as a result of his pacifism. His views on religion, education, sex, politics and many other topics made him one of the most read and revered writers of the age. He also wrote this book, one of the most compelling and vivid autobiographies ever written.
Now available in a single paperback, this edition of Russell's Autobiography includes an introduction by scholar Michael Foot exploring the status of this classic nearly 30 years after the publication of its last volume.
Customer Reviews:
The Hobo Philosopher.......2007-09-09
I am a big fan of Bertrand Russell but this book has been difficult for me. It is very long and very wordy. It contains lots and lots of the details of Russell's personal life - a lot of letters from everybody. I've had the book for a few years now and I am still reading it. As they say, autobiographies are never objective. I love to talk about myself too but wow! I enjoyed Mark Twain's and Clarence Darrow's autobiographies a heck of a lot more. I paid good money for this book and I intend to finish it - one day.
Unless you are especially intrigued by autobiographies or Mr. Russell, I would say that Bertrand has many other books that you might enjoy more.
One of the Great Autobiographies in the English Language!!.......2005-03-17
+++++
"Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind...Love and knowledge, so far as they were possible, led upward toward the heavens. But always pity brought me back to earth."
This is how philosopher Bertrand Russell's (1872 to 1970) autobiography begins. This book (first published in three separate volumes) is brilliantly and simply written, emotionally charged, witty and wise, honest, and historically interesting. It spans almost a century of social and intellectual change. I would say that it is one of the great autobiographies in the English language from a man who was a towering intellectual and humanitarian figure of the twentieth century. As well, this book confirms why Russell, who authored more than seventy-five books, won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950.
His prize according to the official Nobel Prize internet site was awarded "in recognition of his varied and significant writings in which he champions humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought."
Throughout his book, Russell describes his philosophical disputes and quarrels, his rise to honors, his many friendships with high profile people, and his religious and social self-questioning. He was a maverick that stuck to his convictions even if they got him into trouble (he was jailed at age 46 and again at 88). He never failed to stand up and be counted on any matter that stirred his conscience and ideals.
A highlight of this book is that it includes the actual letters between Lord or Earl Russell and a long list of influential people of his time (many whose names are easily recognized today) at the end of each chapter. As well, illustrations (mainly in the form of black and white photographs) are found throughout.
Even though this autobiography is to me brutally honest (for example, "I used to...watch the sunset and contemplate suicide. I did not...commit suicide because I wished to know more of mathematics"), I felt that Russell was holding back on revealing certain aspects of his life.
Finally, the last words in Russell's autobiography are found in the postscript:
"I have lived in the pursuit of vision, both personal and social. Personal: to care for what is noble, for what is beautiful, and for what is gentle; to allow moments of insight to give wisdom at more mundane times. Social: to see in imagination the society that is to be created, where individuals grow freely, and where hate and greed and envy die because there is nothing to nourish them. These things I believe."
In conclusion, be sure to read this autobiography and learn more about this extraordinary and unique man!!
(first published 1967-1969; acknowledgements; introduction; 17 chapters; postscript; main narrative of 730 pages; index)
+++++
A first-class philosopher, a second- class human being .......2005-02-06
For most reviewers Bertrand Russell's cruelty in a number of his personal relationships, especially with women is a minor motif of a very extraordinary life. I understand that point -of- view. There is so so much in Russell's life and thought that inspires admiration. He is by all accounts a great philosopher. He was a truly masterful writer, and his 'History of Western Philosophy'did the seeming impossible and made reading about the subject interesting and entertaining. Russell was a maverick and went his own way in the world of political thought. He may have been a fool when it came to Communism but he surely was right to see the dangers of a nuclear world, and courageous to fight against them. His zest for life, his ability to appreciate and enjoy so many things in life is certainly an admirable quality. He wrote with vigor and clarity and often great wit and humor. He could recognize the value of others, as for instance in his championing of Wittgenstein. He did seem deeply disturbed by human suffering and care deeply to somehow lessen it. Yet the personal cruelty stands strongly against him, and he would seem to join a long list including Marx and Gandhi of ' cruel humanitarians' . His atheism too disturbs me because he shows so little emotional understanding of the needs of religious believers. Russell was very thin and that thinness seems to me to somehow capture something of his essence, also his prose. He lacks a certain complexity, a certain kind of depth that comes in going deeper inside the heart and soul. He was a very great thinker, and writer but I do not believe that as a human being he had the highest kind of feeling and understanding for others. Perhaps one of the greatest 'flat characters'of the twentieth century, a century which also had a few 'rounded ones' of greater human complexity and intensity.
A Model Autobiography.......2003-11-13
Considering that Russell lived such a long life, and an eventful one, and that this book (a compilation of three volumes) covers most of it, it's a long one. But eminently worth it.
As always, Russell's style is brilliant. Simple yet deep, elegant and unadorned, always fresh and looking at things objectively yet with deep feeling.
The book is always informative, engaging, and frequently hilarious.
One of the nicer things about the book is the inclusion of some letters from others. Usually these are luminaries. The one from Will Durant, together with Russell's curt rejoinder, is marvelous.
Russell has the knack of taking what could become boastful incidents--his imprisonment for objecting to WWI, his hair-breadth escape when his plane went down near Norway in WWII--and turning them into humorous, self-effacing ones.
He also has the knack of talking about horrendous personal difficulties in a way that is objective and nonjudgmental.
Gossipy, passionate, and thoughtful........2001-07-09
One gets the impression, as one reads the brilliant character sketches Russell draws of the scholars and lords and ladies who made up his circle of aquaintances, that the English upper class was mostly mad, scoundrels, or geniuses, with a fair amount of overlap. (The author as an outstanding case in point.) The keenness of Russell's insight into character, vivid descriptions, and eye for the absurd, make many passages of this book a delight. "My advice to anyone who wishes to write is to know the very best literature by heart, and ignore the rest as completely as possible." "The past is an aweful God, though he gives life almost the whole of its haunting beauty." "(Plato's) austerity in matters of art pleases me, for it does not seem to be the easy condemnation that comes from the Phillistine." Reading Why I am Not a Christian ..., I got the impression that he had a gloomy outlook on life. But here, I often found great joy in poetry, nature, and the wonder of life. "I had never, till that moment, heard of Blake, and the poem affected me so much that I became dizzy and had to lean against the wall." Tempered, however, by morbid thoughts, and fear of insanity.
One of the odder aspects of the book to me was Russell's "idealism." On one page, he speaks of a mystical experience in which gave him a universal compassion for all mankind: on the very next page, he relates how he "fell out of love" with his wife, and then, how he ditched her. Passing from the same Bodhissattva-like musings elsewhere, he relates, on the next page or so, how he tried to strangle a friend in a rage. He can be sympathetic and even kind, but for a would-be Boddhisattva and fighter for the rights of women, he seems to have hurt a lot of ladies, in particular, rather badly. Yet his friendships in general, with both sexes, seem warm and affectionate.
I docked the book a star because the version I bought (Bantom) seemed dishonest in its packaging. The front and back covers show an old man, though this version only covers the period to 1914. On the back cover, it promises "more exciting episodes than most novels, details more intimate than most exposes, and more intensity of emotion than most fiction writers would dare ascribe to a single hero." Largely hype. This is not Dumas, or Augustine. It's a different kind of story.
Someone else on the back cover calls Russell "a Genius-Saint." Genius, maybe, but the second accolade implies very low standards for sainthood. The book did make me think Russell a more balanced figure than I thought. But part of that balance appears to have been something like madness, and something like cruelty. Intellectually, Russell was a brilliant man. Emotionally, he often strikes me as a lonely and bewildered child, angry at being abandoned, not sure where to look for love, and not sure how to give it.
author, Jesus and the Religions of Man
Book Description
Gareth Evans, one of the most brilliant philosophers of his generation, died in 1980 at the age of thirty-four. He had been working for many years on a book about reference, but did not complete it before his death. The work was edited for publication by John McDowell, who contributes a Preface.
Customer Reviews:
This dude is haggard!.......2003-09-24
I was totaly blown away by the awsomness of this book. the way the guy says things makes you want to scream yeah go ahead! I'm not a expert on reference books or anything, but I think that by the way he writes the book it is just killin' to the reader!!!!!buy this book, light up a big blunt, and chill to the deepness.
Basic Concepts in Varieties of Reference.......2003-08-04
In Varieties of Reference (hereafter, Varieties), Evans sets out a modified Fregean theory of sense for singular terms in language, and their counterpart constituents in thoughts (singular thoughts). Russell's Principle (RP) is an initial formulation of what thinking about an object (grasping its sense) requires. The central thesis of Varieties is that RP applies to all cases of understanding singular reference. Evans distinguishes what counts as satisfying RP for different kinds of objects (e.g., numbers, colors, shapes, spatio-temporal objects). These are the fundamental grounds of difference for those kinds of objects. And there are multiple modes of satisfying RP: demonstrative identification, recognition-based identification, and information-based descriptions. Evans has chapters dedicated to demonstrative and recognition-based modes.
Varieties is dense and difficult material (in the early eighties, Hilary Putnam wrote a surprisingly negative review where he blasts Evans for writing a book that is overly technical; John McDowell wrote several letters responding to Putnam's criticism). But Varieties is packed with awesome thought and is deeply satisfying to read. Also enjoyable are Evans's odd examples, like the coughing sheep, the spinning steel balls, and the hands feeling velvet.
To grasp the motivation for Evans's theory, it is helpful to have some feeling for Dummett's theory of sense, and the attacks on sense made by proponents of the new theory of reference like Kripke. Evans criticizes these positions early in the book, but he also wants to salvage elements of both. Strawson's Individuals and Geach's Mental Acts are also a big influence on Varieties. For example, reading the first couple chapters of Individuals are very helpful for getting a general sense of what is going on when Evans talks about the "fundamental ground of difference" for spatio-temporal objects.
Some of the most important technical concepts in Varieties are the following:
1. Russell's Principle: "The principle is that a subject cannot make a judgment about something unless he knows which object his judgment is about.... In order to make Russell's Principle a substantial principle, I shall suppose that the knowledge which it requires is what might be called discriminating knowledge: the subject must have a capacity to distinguish the object of his judgment from all other things.... We have the idea of certain sufficient conditions for being able to discriminate an object from all other things: for example, when one can perceive it at the present time; when one can recognize it if presented with it; and when one knows distinguishing facts about it" (89).
2. The Generality Constraint: "It seems to me that there must be a sense in which thoughts are structured.... I should prefer to explain the sense in which thoughts are structured, not in terms of their being composed of several distinct elements, but in terms of their being a complex of the exercise of several distinct conceptual abilities.... Thus if a subject can be credited with the thought that a is F, then he must have the conceptual resources for entertaining the thought that a is G, for every property of being G of which he has a conception" (100-104).
3. Idea (capitalized): "I shall speak of the Ideas a subject has, of this or that particular object, on the model of the way we speak of the concepts a subject has, of this or that property". Combined with the Generality Constraint, this yields the notion that "An Idea of an object, then, is something which makes it possible for a subject to think of an object in a series of indefinitely many thoughts, in each of which he will be thinking of the object in the same way" (104).
4. Fundamental Ground of Difference: "An Idea of an object is part of a conception of a world of such objects, distinguished from one another in certain fundamental ways. For every kind of object, there is a general answer to the question, `What makes it the case that there are two objects of this kind rather than one (or three rather than two)?' For example, we may say that shades of color are distinguished from one another by their phenomenal properties, that shapes are distinguished from one another by their geometrical properties, that sets are differentiated from one another by their possessing different members, that numbers are differentiated from one another by their position in an infinite ordering, and that chess positions are distinguished from one another by the positions of pieces upon the board" (106-107).
5. The Fundamental Ground of Difference for Spatio-Temporal Objects: "In the case of temporal objects-objects which exist in time and which change-we must replace the absolute notion of what differentiates an object from others with the notion of what differentiates an object from others at a time.... The answer to the question what differentiates a statue from every other thing at a time is given by citing (i) the position which it occupies at that time and (ii) the fact that it is a statue" (107). The fundamental ground of difference is that which knowledge of suffices to distinguish an object from all other objects (of its kind), that is, knowledge of which satisfies Russell's Principle.
6. Fundamental Idea: "Let us say that one has a fundamental Idea of an object if one thinks of it as the possessor of the fundamental ground of difference which it in fact possesses" (107).
7. Information-based Thought: "An [information-based thought] is governed by a conception of its object which is the result neither of fancy...nor of linguistic stipulation...but rather is the result of a belief about how the world is which the subject has because he has received information (or misinformation) from the object" (121). Information is meant to capture our causal involvement with the world around us.
Book Description
Bertrand Russell was one of the greatest logicians since Aristotle, and one of the most important philosophers of the past two hundred years. As we approach the 125th anniversary of the Nobel laureate's birth, his works continue to spark debate, resounding with unmatched timeliness and power. The Problems of Philosophy, one of the most popular works in Russell's prolific collection of writings, has become core reading in philosophy. Clear and accessible, this little book is an intelligible and stimulating guide to those problems of philosophy which often mistakenly lead to its status as too lofty and abstruse for the lay mind. Focusing on problems he believes will provoke positive and constructive discussion, Russell concentrates on knowledge rather than metaphysics, steering the reader through his famous 1910 distinction between "knowledge by acquaintance and knowledge by description," and introducing important theories of Descartes, Kant, Hegel, Hume, Locke, Plato, and others to lay the foundation for philosophical inquiry by general readers and scholars alike. With a new introduction by John Perry, this valuable work is a perfect introduction to the field and will continue to stimulate philosophical discussion as it has done for nearly forty years.
Download Description
IN this chapter we have to ask ourselves whether, in any sense at all, there is such a thing as matter. Is there a table which has a certain intrinsic nature, and continues to exist when I am not looking, or is the table merely a product of my imagination, a dream-table in a very prolonged dream? This question is of the greatest importance.
Customer Reviews:
Exceptional insight.......2007-10-11
Bertrand Russell is one of my favorite philosophers to read and this book was the one that started it all. Russell's analysis of man's epistemological limitations is truly enlightening. A theory of everything, origin of the universe, teleology- concepts that have galvanized human beings for ages are extrapolated from a new perspective by Russell.
The first few chapters that explain data processing by the human mind, perceptions and reality as experienced by the senses is of utmost importance to truly understand what Russell is saying. Lucid imagery and explanations are abundant in Russell's prose.
By the time I was done with this book, I was left wondering if the title 'Problems with human perception' would have been more appropriate.
Great Introduction.......2006-03-09
This book is a model of exposition, covering an amazing amount of ground in just over 150 pages - and the excellent writing makes it seem even shorter than that. It is not really a standard introduction to all of philosophy, however, since it deals mainly with questions of epistemology. But as an introduction to that branch of philosophy, it is definitely one of the best. Among other things, it includes Russell's famous chapter "On Induction", criticisms of idealism, of Kant, and (perhaps surprisingly) of empiricism, and a defense of the correspondence theory of truth.
The five star rating does not mean that I agree with everything in it, however. Russell himself came to disagree with much of what he said in this book (e.g., with respect to his views on universals). But in spite of being somewhat dated, it is definitely worthwhile, especially for the beginning student.
Amazing book.......2006-01-09
Russell does an amazing job of dissecting philosophy and getting to squishy center and practical basis that let's us attempt to understand the world. It's very easy to read and enjoyable. And despite being written in 1912, it reads like it was written yesterday (other then a few anachronisms, here and there).
The only downside is that, obviously, it doesn't say much about philosophical developments in the 20th century.
Still, it's a fantastic and easy to understand book, and everyone who can read should read it.
The Problems of Philosophy.......2005-08-30
This book is compulsory reading to anyone studying Philosphy, it is written in such a style as to take away the mysteke normally associated with the subject. Anyone can read this book and gain an understanding.
Dr. Wallace Devlin, Ph.D
A thought-provoking book.......2005-04-03
One of my favorite books by Russell! A very straight-forward introduction to philosophical issues as Russell saw them.
Average customer rating:
- "Religion and Science" as opposed to "Religion vs. Science"
- Comments on 2 CD Audio...
- Two Titans' Battle is Reviewed by Capable Hands
- Religion and Science
- A must read for the religious and nonreligious alike
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Religion and Science
Bertrand Russell
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
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ASIN: 0195115511 |
Book Description
In this timely work, Russell, philosopher, agnostic, mathematician, and renowned peace advocate, offers a brief yet insightful study of the conflicts between science and traditional religion during the last four centuries. Examining accounts in which scientific advances clashed with Christian doctrine or biblical interpretations of the day, from Galileo and the Copernican Revolution, to the medical breakthroughs of anesthesia and inoculation, Russell points to the constant upheaval and reevaluation of our systems of belief throughout history. In turn, he identifies where similar debates between modern science and the Church still exist today. Michael Ruse's new introduction brings these conflicts between science and theology up to date, focusing on issues arising after World War II. This classic is sure to interest all readers of philosophy and religion, as well as those interested in Russell's thought and writings.
Customer Reviews:
"Religion and Science" as opposed to "Religion vs. Science".......2006-04-02
This book is the culmination of lengthy and grueling contemplations. It really reveals the author's depth of knowledge.
Religion and science are two major aspects of life. Religion (or to worship something more superior and powerful) has been around since the day humankind was created. In every epoch, in every land, human beings felt a need to believe in something which they can seek refuge when they are in need of protection, relief, solace and peace of mind. Whether you believe in a religion or not, it plays, perhaps, the biggest role in our lives everyday. Science, on the other hand, is the grand sum of all the endeavors that mankind expended in search of unraveling the mysteries of the universe.
In my opinion, the author could have named the book "Christianity and Science" as well, because he refers to other religions very briefly. I am sure he was not unaware of them, but to name a book with such a generic name, it entails a comprehensive treatise of all major religions. Although there are many common denominators among them, there are as well many stark contrasts. Furthermore, the historical development of major religions exhibit different features, distinct approaches and methodologies.
Having been raised in a Christian environment, it is not unusual for the author to bring forth such a book. At that time, the Islamic civilization was (and still is) in a state of decline and inertia. The concept of "religion and science" should be discussed in a forum with participants from all major religions. Hence, one will be able to produce a comprehensive treatise.
As for this book specifically, the chapter "Demonology and Medicine" is especially striking and includes very powerful stories. The outstanding difference between today's Western civilization and the Medieval Europe is characterized very successfully. In the latter chapters, the evolution of scientific thought in West is discussed with very illustrative examples. The notion of "relativity" in the sense that every human being perceives the Universe from a different angle with different assumptions and premises is argued and scrutinized very logically, effectively. This book really makes you ponder over the Universe in which you live, from many perspectives, with the ideas that shape it.
Personally, science and religions are not archnemeses. They are very powerful tools, which go parallel to each other, to perceive and comprehend the secrets of life.
Overall, a very powerful book for those who are not afraid of thinking!
Comments on 2 CD Audio... .......2005-02-24
Hard to believe that this Book (here in CD Audio Format) was written was back in 1932! Most of it is as current and relevent now as then. The CD is broken down in to several parts, including RELIGION AND THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD,RELIGION AND DISEASE,RELIGION AND EVOLUTION, RELIGION AND MYSTICISM. Always very polite and a bit understated, the CD begins commenting on Copernicus and Galileo, scientists contradicting the dogma of their times. Then onto Church responses to disease including 1600's Plagues, and Smallpox. The blame was put on demons and devils, not germs aor viruses. His comments on the Smallpox outbreak in 1880's Montreal are worth the price of the CD. Evolution and biology are discussed, and Russll has some interesting thoughts on mysticism. Very worthwhile in this CD format!
Two Titans' Battle is Reviewed by Capable Hands.......2004-04-27
Quick overview of the centuries long conflict between religion and science. Russell firmly believes that religion has stood in the natural path of science on multiple fronts. Every time religion has been "pushed aside" by science (sometimes violently), man has made tremendous progressive strides. This includes discovering that blood flows through the body and the failure to find the soul within the body, amongst dozens of other examples.
The book's age takes very little away from the book. Russell even acknowledges that the fields of science he speaks about are still progressing and his words about them will one day be less poignant.
Fascinating and quick, I read "S&R" after "The Problems of Philosophy" and "The Conquest of Happiness," but before "Why I Am Not a Christian."
Religion and Science.......2003-02-06
I really enjoyed this book. Basically this is a history book of science and religion and how they have interacted over the history of mankind. Bertrand explains how almost every great scientific finding or revolution is oppressed ...by religion in some way or another. Copernicus, Newton, Galileo, Darwin, Vesalius, Harvey, Simpson, and many other distinguished scholars have all been at least fearful of the reactions of the churches, but also of the general population. Bertrand also goes into detail how the idea of ?soul? has changed through time: ?We not only react to external objects, but we know that we react. The stone, we think, does not know it reacts, but if it does it has ?consciousness.? Here also, on analysis, the difference will be found to be one of degree.? I rate this book with five out of five stars; I enjoyed it and still do enjoy it thoroughly.
A must read for the religious and nonreligious alike.......1998-07-28
Russell's "Religion and Science" explores, in a thoughtful and intelligent fashion, essentially the dark side of religion and its historical resistance (to say the least) to scientific discovery. This is clearly a must read for any rational thinking human.
Amazon.com
Could it be true that Whitehead and Russell's Principia Mathematica is the most influential book written in the 20th century? Ask any mathematician or philosopher--or anyone who understands the impact these fields have had on modern thinking--and you'll get a short answer: yes. Their goal, to set mathematics on a firm logical foundation, was revolutionary, and their tools and rigor continue to influence modern professionals. Using Peano's symbolic logic, they formalized axioms and produced theorems (including the famous "1 + 1 = 2") in orderings, continuous functions, and other areas of mathematics.
Although the Principia is far from comprehensive, Whitehead and Russell's method and program captivate their readers. The audacity to hope to formalize all of mathematics logically was inspirational and helped to give great boosts to math and logical philosophy. Though Gödel proved in 1931 that any such program is doomed to incompleteness, the tools found in and developed from the three volumes helped build the atomic bomb and the Internet. It may not be summer vacation reading (for most), but Principia Mathematica will reward the dedicated student with a deeper understanding of how we got here. --Rob Lightner
Book Description
The great three-volume Principia Mathematica (CUP 1927) is deservedly the most famous work ever written on the foundations of mathematics. Its aim is to deduce all the fundamental propositions of logic and mathematics from a small number of logical premises and primitive ideas, establishing that mathematics is a development of logic. This abridged text of Volume I contains the material that is most relevant to an introductory study of logic and the philosophy of mathematics (more advanced students will of course wish to refer to the complete edition). It contains the whole of the preliminary sections (which present the authors' justification of the philosophical standpoint adopted at the outset of their work); the whole of Part I (in which the logical properties of propositions, propositional functions, classes and relations are established); section A of Part II (dealing with unit classes and couples); and Appendices A and C (which give further developments of the argument on the theory of deduction and truth functions).
Customer Reviews:
ludicrously quixotic work.......2005-03-22
I have not read this book. I tried, having been fascinated by logic and mathematics since high school, but it has absolutely nothing to offer most people. in fact I find it hard to believe anyone has ever read this book. The 4 and 5 star reviews on this page should be taken as evidence there are some people out there with very different taste from mine, and I bet yours. In fact I have difficulty believing they are serious.
I think only a fanatic could enjoy reading this book, certainly not a budding mathematician. If you are attracted by a book that proves 1+1 = 2 somewhere after 100 pages, this is the book for you!
I admit I have been surprized before at what some people find interesting, but the idea that anyone would pay 5 or 6 hundred dollars for the set! the publishers seem to me to be sniffing glue. (I have a PhD in mathematics, a mathematical library costing thousands of dollars, and tried to read this work at Harvard as a young math student.)
To call this book influential, is to me really ridiculous, since I suspect few people have even looked at it in the last half of the 20th century, nor would want to do so at any length, in my opinion.
But don't take my word for it, go to your scientific library and check it out for yourself. You might like it, but I seriously doubt it. I did not intend to review this book, but some of the reviews here really defy belief. I could not let them pass without comment.
One must assume those reviewers here are serious who praise it, but I suggest almost no mathematics student need give it more than a passing look. The review that stated something like "if you do not already know you want this book, then you do not" is pretty accurate.
OK, a quick re reading of reviews here shows many of them say truthfully that this book is only appropriate for a very small group of readers. However I would suggest that group does not even include most mathematicians. The ones who like it are apparently philosophers, and some are the sort who resort to calling people stupid who disagree with them.
A Hallmark in the History of Mathematics and Philosophy........2004-07-22
Much nonsense has been said on the subject of the importance of Principia Mathematica by people ignorant of the history of mathematics and logic. Principia Mathematica together with Frege's Grundgesetze der Arithmetik is the book which gives birth to modern logic. It is absurd to assume that Russell and Whitehead intended their axiomatization of mathematics as a guide to learn the subject, as one reviewer thinks, in fact what they tried to show was that the whole of mathematics could be deduced from a small stock of premises and inference rules and using only notions of first order logic and set theory. In doing this they were following a trend in mathematical thought in the late XIX century, that of introducing more rigour to the subject, they intended to do this by demonstrating that the derivation of mathematics needed only logic (think of Weierstrass, Dedekind, Cantor, Frege). From a philosophical standpoint they also did it to rebut the intuitionist views of Kant and Poincare as well as certain opinions regarding truth coming from British Idealism (think of Bradley). Of course there are much more rigurous treatises on logic, but they would have been impossible without PM because PM was the first thorough treatment of this subject-matter and, indeed, the first book to use the modern day notation. As another reviewer pointed out, Godel's proof would've been impossible without Principia; someone first needed to show that you could reduce mathematics to logic to a great extent (Russell and Whitehead were aware that their treatment used certain axioms unprovable within the system, like the axiom of infinity, but were hopeful a solution would be found, Godel found it, it was a negative solution, there could be no complete system PM like). This book together with Frege's gave birth to modern logic, it gave a tremendous boost to research in set theory, it influenced the presentation of modern mathematics to the extent that every student has to learn about sets at the beginning of a mathematics course, it showed also the scope of the deductive powers of logic and axiomatic systems which made possible the revolution in computers and AI. It developed an influential and responsive philosophy of mathematics, perhaps the most influential of the XX century. In it Russell's superb theory of descriptions, a cornerstone in logic and philosophy, is applied with success. This theory is tremendously important in logic through its use of quantification to break up much more complex expressions revealing their true logical form. In philosophy it provided a theory which would prove immensely useful and important in epistemology, metaphysics and the philosophy of language. Russell's paradox ( regarding those sets of sets which are not members of themselves) is disposed through ramified type-theory, now obsolete in logic (though not in computer science), because, thanks to it, other ways to avoid the paradox were developed, think of Zermelo-Fraenkl or Ramsey's simple type theory. Carnap, Hilbert, Weiner, Ramsey, Quine, Wittgenstein, Turing, Tarski, Godel etc were, as thinkers, tremendously influenced by it. In short, this work is one of the greatest achievements in the history of thought, its importance for mathematics, logic, philosophy (linguistics also) and computer science is first rate, suffice to say that none of these studies would be as advanced as they are now, or as complex, or in the same direction were it not for Russell and Whitehead's groundbreaking scientific work. Of course, like Newton's Philosophia Naturalis Principia Mathematica it is now, because the subjects it initiated are today tremendously advanced, mostly of historical interest, however, for the philosophers at least, Russell's introduction still holds great philosophical interest and rigourous arguments helpful in the contemporary debate in the philosophy of mathematics. For more details, historical background and a well-documented account check out Ivor Grattan Guiness's great works on the history of mathematics, logic and set theory. For an appropiate and easy-going understanding of the scope and purpose of this work read Russell's brilliant "The Principles of Mathematics", his "Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy", or Frank Ramsey's papers on the "Foundations of Mathematics". Even easier is Penrose's account of it in his "The Emperor's New Mind" or his "Shadows of the Mind." If you want to see the direct influence of Russell and Whitehead's work check the works of Quine, Wittgenstein, Godel, Tarski or some of the papers of Turing in Mind (some are available online); van Heijenoort's "From Frege to Godel" is a superb sourcebook on papers which detail the development of mathematical logic.
Considering some statements from mathematicians arguing for the thesis of the irrelevance of the book based on the fact that probably no mathematician of notice has read the work in the last fifty or so years shows the misunderstandings to which people who dislike history are prone, and shows some contempt for the history of mathematics and logic. I am reminded of the comment I heard once, that the theories of the Milesians (all is water, etc) are absurd, a view which I am convinced would only be put forward by someone wholly indifferent to historical context, and who does not consider those theories as the first step towards the current scientific worldview. It is like saying that Bacon's methodology of science is irrelevant because we now have a deeper understanding of how science works, or even like saying that the study of the work of Adam Smith is worthless since for free-market economies we can now consider Hayek's or Milton Friedman's work. This analogy will, hopefully, show the preposterousness of views which do not consider the historical context of such major works. Indeed one does not need to review the proofs in PM (poor by modern standards) that 1 plus 1 equals 2, to understand the important place of this book in contemporary thought. It is only necessary to glance at any contemporary book on logic or set theory, most of the ideas there, the notation, and most developments in both disciplines in the past fifty or so years. Developments which are in debt of the work done by Zermelo, Hilbert, Quine, Turing, Weiner, Tarski, Godel etc, who, as anyone who has studied a bit of their works (as in authored by them) will know, owe their own ideas, developments and work to the study of Principia Mathematica during the first fifty years of the twentieth century. Indeed I would be the first to suggest that no one should read this book from cover to cover if one wants to learn logic (even Russell used to joke he only knew of a couple of poles who had read it and had then perished in WWII), just as I wouldn't suggest anyone interested in contemporary calculus and advanced mathematics to read Newton's Principia, or anyone interested in Set Theory to read Cantor's papers, or again, anyone interested in Einstein's special relativity to read his 1905 papers. In fact I cannot believe anyone would have to stress this point, but I am forced to on account of the various misunderstandings I see here, and by mathematicians, which one would presume would be the most rigurous of thinkers. These days the value of the book is mostly historical (with the introduction, mostly chapters II and III, having philosophical value), but, and I must once again stress this strongly, its tremendously influential and important place in the DEVELOPMENT of logic and set theory (and metatheory with the discovery of Russell's paradox) cannot be doubted, it can indeed be traced, if one takes the time to do so, to the various seminal thinkers it influenced strongly. Its value should be doubted even less by those academics ignorant of the history of their own disciplines not because they disagree with me (I could hardly be that vain) but rather because their misunderstandings are on par with disminishing Darwin's importance to contemporary biology on the grounds that his works are not cited in the bibliography of the most important papers written on the subject nowadays.
Principia.......2003-07-31
I decided to write a review, because, when reading the existing ones,- I realized their incorrectness. Leaving out the "Customer from Christchurch New Zealand", the rest shows an evident shallowness of mind. The reader "La-la land" utilizes an enormous mass of epithets discrediting Russell and Whitehead, which could be valuable in a form, but instead,- he shows a stupid prejudice that must have learned in his Mathematical-logic "polytechnic" course. I will only refute his last thought( which is the base of his "thesis"), because the others refute themselves. He presents Russell as a "Fruitless Mathematician", and even more stupid, compares him with Hilbert, saying: " at least he proved himself worthy.....". Throughout all Mathematics history we have individuals with enormous logic-constructive aptitudes, who although creating fundamentals results, were unable to understand their significance. Two perfect examples are Newton and Leibniz, both creators of the "infinitesimal calculus". One went on to construct the modern mechanistic view of physics in his "Principia". The other, with a much more profound understanding of logic, a superficial "monadic-substantial" and teleological ontology. Newtonian physics was a major episode in modern science, and Leibniz "subject-predicate" logic is the first glance at mathematical-logic.But their incorrect understanding of the infinitesimal calculus made them see, in it, the proof of an omnipotent god: they both conceived a universe with its first cause as god, and the human aptitude is, within it, merely an "algorithmic" one, which could never fully calculate god's creation. Hilbert, also providing fundamental results in constructive knowledge, went on to expose a somewhat "Hegelian" conception of mathematics, giving an almost silly definition of numbers. Both of this errors cause enormous damage, which I don't have space to describe now. Russell's "Principia Mathematica", although written with the wrong "motivation"( that is: to reduce the whole of mathematics into axiomatic form, finding the "universal method"), achieved unquestionable logic-mathematical results: The most valuable and original, the "theory of descriptions". in an abridged explanation, these theory comprehends the next: "algorithmic" function in logic and mathematics. when you say, " this is black", the theory of descriptions shows that you are only saying something about "this", which is a subject-variable(x), and black is an element-predicate, calculable within the conjunct "this". The theory permits mathematical-logic understand algorithmic functions, and is, also, what makes possible via your computer processor to read codified information. The result is more than a "fruit". it gives you the possibility of grasping that, like any other mathematical fruit, men is able of creating it,- and of reading it(calculate it). these means: Mathematical creations are only valuable as a source of human power, not as mystic ontological formulae,- that stupid motivation in all pseudo "Mathematicians".
In terms of actuality, the axiomatic system, the method, has been perfected, simplified, and transcended. If I had to recommend some books on the matter, I would say Tarski's: "Introduction to logic and to the methodology of the deductive sciences", Patrick Suppes:"axiomatic set theory", continued by the reading of the: "Gödel proofs" by Raymond Smullyan, some other text dealing whith "boolean algebra" such as: "logic as algebra" by Halmos. This would give any self-educated person, the basic models he needs to comprehend math-logic, the "method" with which he can possibly contribute to this "powerful trend of modern thought" as described by tarski. Remember that Russell and whitehead say in the introduction that they not claim having the most perfect axiomatic reduction, only that the one presented was enough to reduce mathematics into that form, which was, until godel, true, or at least "thought possible"(completely). Is important to undersatnd that "principia mathematica" made "possible" the incompleteness proofs of Godel: his original paper was named "on formally undecidable propositions of principia mathematica and related systems"(see dover edition), and although he uses mostly the axioms of peano in his system, if someone as Russel had not attempted successfully such axiomatic construction of math, godel would have never found or seen the incompleteness of arithmetic's. Something similar could be said of the later notions of completeness of first order logic, metamathematics, etc. The few works (few only in number) independent from principia may be the ones of: 1) the polish masters: Lukasiewicz, Lesniewski, and the last king Tarski. 2) the forgotten Richard Martin's and Rudolf Carnap's logic-syntaxic-semantic conception of math-logic. The rest walked, continued walking the path of principia. Individual example: Quine. ...
If you don't know know this book then you don't need it.......2003-07-22
Let me try to give a balanced review.
First this is a monumental work and one of the most influential works of the 20th century. I am not giving it five stars: this book earned them. With that said I don't think is the most influential book of the 20th century because such a book doesn't exist. In my opinion that kind of debate is totally misleading.
However the five stars do not suggest that you should buy this book. With the exception of libraries and scholars specializing in Russell or related subjects, I can't see anybody else spending [this amount] on a copy of this work. That is unless they like to collect books. For a math or philosophy student the paperback copy to *56 is all you need.
Unless you are a mathematician, a logician or a philosopher with a strong background in logic and philosophy of mathematics and aware of the issues surrounding the problems in the foundations of mathematics at the beginning of the 20th century then you are not going to benefit from STUDYING this book. The emphasis in studying is important because this book needs to be studied not just read like some reviewers may suggest.
If you are not an expert in this area and you want to learn about the subject then you may want to start with Bertrand Russell's "Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy". It summarizes the major points of this work for the layman and is Russell at its best (he won a Nobel prize mostly due to this book). Read it with a critical mind and then you can continue reading Quine, Putnam, Brower, Heyting and the rest. You can get a good bibliography from Benacerraf and Putnam's "Philosophy of Mathematics".
Finally if you are a mathematician, a logician or a philosopher you already know about this book and you don't need this review. Moreover you know you can borrow a copy from the university library for study...that is unless you like to collect books.
Mostly of historical interest.......2002-10-19
The notation of PM is hard to read by anyone who learned logic post 1960, say. The typesetting is archaic. Hundreds of theorems are proved, but it is not clear where
they all lead. Russell and Whitehead are guilty of a number of major philosophical confusions, such as use and mention, between meta- and object language, and their confused notion of "propositional function." Their choice of axioms can be much improved upon. The PM theory of types and orders is a complicated horror; Chwistek, Ramsey, and others later showed that it could be radically simplified. R & W think they can substitute the intensional for the extensional, and ultimately define sets and relations in logical terms. PM does not have a clue about model theory or metatheory. There is no hint of proofs of consistency, completeness, categoricity, and Loewenheim-Skolem. In this sense, the fathers of modern logic are Skolem, Goedel, Tarski, and Church. And Goedel did indeed prove that there must exist mathematical truths that cannot be proved true using the axioms of PM, or any other finite set of axioms.
But this is still one of the greatest works of mathematics and philosophy of all time. The long prose introduction is a philosophical masterpiece. The collaboration between Russell and Whitehead may be the greatest scientific collaboration in British history. Whitehead, who was trained as a mathematician, went on to become one of the shrewder philosophers of the 20th century, and supervised Quine's PhD thesis. PM's treatment of the algebra of relations (a brilliant generalisation of Boolean algebra that
has not received the study it deserves) is perhaps the most thorough ever.
Mathematical logic is indeed the abstract structure that underlies the digital electronics revolution. And PM is still perhaps the greatest work of math logic ever penned.
Book Description
This book chronicles the story of a group of individuals caught at a crossroads and targeted in the cross fires of history. In 1933 events in their native Germanic lands presented them with a "Hobson's choice"-leave if you can or die! Their lives were saved because Turkey was discarding the society and culture inherited from the Ottomans' derelict and shattered empire while recognizing and addressing the need to modernize its society, culture, way of living, and system of higher education. Using a collection of third-party archival documents, cotemporaneous family and collegial correspondence, memoirs, oral histories, photos, and other surviving evidence Arnold Reisman documents the fears, the courage, the heartaches, and the determination of these brilliant people as well as their contributions to shifting established paradigms in several fields of knowledge. He also speculates about Turkey's inabilities to fully capitalize on these emigres' legacy. The book is intended for lay readers interested in history of the 20th Century, history of science, history of Turkey, the Holocaust, and in a case study of post-Islamic national development. "This book adds to our knowledge of an important aspect of the Holocaust, and of the behavior of Nation States in the modern world of woe and grief." - Sir Martin Gilbert, Winston Churchill's official biographer and a leading historian of the modern world. He is the author of The Holocaust: A History of the Jews of Europe During the Second World War. "This book should be on the 'must-read' list of books about World War II and the years preceding it." - Dr. Israel Hanukoglu, Former Science Adviser to the Prime Minister of Israel. Currently Professor and Chairman of the Department of Molecular Biology, College of Judea and Samaria, Ariel, Israel. "This book involves five major topics: science, history, politics, economics, and the arts. It is the earliest comprehensive essay in the English language, on the German émigrés who, while taking refuge in Turkey after 1933, contributed to the modernization of its higher education, and to the implementation of research activities and social reforms." - Prof. Dr. Feza Günergun, Chair for History of Science, Faculty of Letters, Istanbul University, Beyazit-Istanbul, Turkey.
Customer Reviews:
In depth information about a little known topic.......2007-02-02
This book is about the story of the German-Jewish professors that were displaced by the [..]and were invited to come to Turkey by Ataturk's government. About 150 of them came in the 1933-1938 time frame. Some stayed for a few years, many stayed for 10 years or more. Some have stayed until retirement.The book, about 470 pages long and illustrated with many photographs and other material, is a really well-researched investigation into * the world circumstances that made this episode possible* the individuals who arranged the mechanics of this immigration* the personal life stories of these very capable scholars* how they adapted to life in Turkey* how they impacted Turkey's university education and modernization* the nature of the support and non-support they received from the government and the people This was a subject I had fleeting knowledge about. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, which greatly enhanced my knowledge and understanding of the subject. It also provided yet another illustration of the vision and genius of Ataturk in making deft use of every opportunity to improve his nation. It triggered in my mind the thought that Turkey probably had a second similar opportunity at the time of the disintegration of the Soviet Union, when top tier scientists in select fields could have easily been induced to come to Turkey. Unfortunately, political cadres in charge at the time had nowhere near Ataturk's vision. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. It is very readable and has many details that our generation can relate to. An interesting trivia is that Einstein was one month away himself from coming to Turkey within these group of scholars, when he received an offer from Princeton.
WOWW.......2007-01-01
A fascinating read.
I am very involved with genealogy, so I really enjoyed the memoirs.
The structure of the book was different and refreshing.
Highly recommended especially for college library, international studies and Turkish history shelves........2006-12-10
Written by Arnold Reisman Ph.D., who has served as Visiting Scholar in Turkey at both Sabanci University and the Istanbul Technical University, Turkey's Modernization: Refugees from Nazism and Ataturk's Vision is enlightening true story of how the Turkish Government of Mustafa Kernal Atatuk and Ismet Inonu accepted German and Austrian Jews, and took advantage of these victims of racial prejudice and persecution to aid the Turkish Republic's progress in academic, scientific, and medical undertakings. Tracing the lasting impacts of builders, preservers, creators, social reformers, healers, and scientists, as well as the problems they encountered, the turbulence caused by World War II and their attempts to emigrate to the U.S., Turkey's Modernization is a fascinating parable of how Turkey capitalized upon the best and the brightest - as well as of its stumbling blocks, such as its cultural predispositions for encouraging talented scientists to be content as hired hands rather than strike out and forge new businesses. Highly recommended especially for college library, international studies and Turkish history shelves.
Compelling!.......2006-09-26
Arnold Reisman's book, Turkey's Modernization, was a history lesson of the best kind. I have read a number of books on the Nazi takeover of various countries. Yet, I had never experienced the joy of learning how Turkey welcomed those expelled from Germany.
In 1933, when Hitler came to power, he decided to dismiss all Jewish professors from German colleges and universities. Geniuses of technology, physics and the arts fled into Turkey's waiting arms and began its well-deserved modernization.
The "emigres" (renowned scientists, architects and artists) are responsible for some of the most magnificent structures in Turkey still standing today. These brave professors taught Turkish students and were revered by most in the country. Of course, they had to deal with jealousy from Turkish professors for a number of reasons. Some of the emigres were paid a higher salary and enjoyed various perks, yet this was all deserved. It certainly couldn't heal a people
who were devastated at having to leave their homes and families to chart an unknown territory. Yet, thank God they did! Hitler's lost was absolutely Turkey's gain!
These professors were too many to be named in this review. You must read this book in order to understand and celebrate the contributions of these refugees from Nazism. They were saviors to Turkey and the students they benefited.
Turkey's Modernization was a book I couldn't put down. It should be required reading for all who are history majors and any who can enjoy a story of lemons turned into lemonade.
Armchair Interviews says: Another unique view of history most do not know.
Refuge and its reward .......2006-09-25
The convergence of two historical developments are at the center of this book. First , is the rise of the Nazis to power in Germany. Second, is the creation of modern Turkey, and its effort to develop a first- rate set of academic institutions. This convergence meant that a number of leading German and Austrian academics were invited in the years 1933-1939 to teach and help establish their disciplines in Turkey. Among these are some figures of world - reputation including Erich Auerbach, the author of one of the greatest of all works of Literary Criticism, 'Mimesis' the leading figures of the 'Berlin Group' the philosopher Hans Reichenbach, the mathemitician aerodynamist and positivist philosopher Richard von Mises, the positivist philosopher Carl Hempl, the composer Paul Hindemith, the theatrical producer Carl Ebert,and the astrophysicist Findlay Freundlich. One of the first scientists and a major figure in expediting the whole process was the pathologist Philip Schwarz. All in all close to three - hundred distinguished academics and their family members made their way to Turkey during this time. The effect of their efforts amounted to nothing less than a total transformation of the higher education system in Turkey, in the sciences, humanities, and arts, but also in public health, library, legal, engineering and administrative practices.
Reisman provides a thorough documentation and often moving narrative of this process, including his telling of many of the individual stories of the academicians involved. In the background he provides an overall history of modern Turkey and brings this up - to- date even providing an explanation of the current situation of the academic world in Turkey and why the original reforms carried out by these academicians have not always had the results desired.
This is a large book impressively researched and very clearly and movingly written.
I could not recommend it more highly.
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