Bertrand Russell The Value Of Philosophy Analysis

In The Value of Philosophy, Bertrand Russell, a once influential professor at Cambridge University, aims to answer the question of “why study philosophy?” Russell states there are many misconceptions about the ends philosophy aims to achieve. In this text, Russell aims to address the misconceptions and explain what it truly is philosophy provides for an individual. Typically, the study of philosophy is viewed as trifling and confusing and studies the controversies of subject matter in which knowledge is impossible. There is a common fallacy that studying philosophy cannot serve the same purpose the study of the physical sciences can. There is a higher value placed on the study of physical science because the achievements through the study of this subject are beneficial to society as a whole whereas there is a lack of a value placed on philosophy because the study of philosophy primarily affects the student and only indirectly affects those around the student. Bertrand Russell’s argument in this text focuses on the value philosophy provides for an individual which transfers to very valuable applications to the world around us. Russell argues that “philosophy should be studied, not for the sake of any definite answers to its questions but rather …show more content…
The reason the study of philosophy is important is to make us aware of the importance of the different philosopher’s approaches to the questions asked in philosophy- it “keeps alive speculative interest in the universe rather than have us be confined in definite knowledge.” Philosophy maintains value because it forces the student to become more imaginative. A student, after studying philosophy, may challenge beliefs rather than just accept such