Bertrand Russell

might know the truth but refuse to prove it like with Socrates in Plato’s Apology. Socrates clearly took philosophy seriously and his own awareness of ignorance frees him from what Russell would refer to as "Self". An ethically oriented skepticism lies at the heart of his own properly philosophical way of life. For Russell, philosophy should lead to peace – to personal serenity, and to peace in the world.…

In this essay, I will be writing about Bertrand Russell’s “The Value of Philosophy” and Plato’s The Apology. These readings were written by two very important and valued philosophers who made a huge impact on the philosophical community throughout time. “The Value of Philosophy” is Russell’s point of view when it comes to philosophy. The Apology is Plato’s version of the trial of Socrates, so the reading is about what Socrates believed was philosophy. This essay will discuss the views,…

therefore it is more favourable, as Bertrand Russell stated: “Aristotle’s…

arguments. Bertrand Russell argues that if piety is because of God’s authorization, then to God “there is no difference between right and wrong” and because of this, Russell says it cannot be said that God is good (Russell 12). He also says that in order to say that God is good, one must agree that morality and immorality have meaning separate from God’s authorization because “God's fiats are good and not good independently of the mere fact that he made them” (12). One valid point Russell…

that do not share the notion that bullfighting is morally right, but the bulk of the audience in England has decided it so, therefore for them it is acceptable. Russell seems to argue that despite what Harman has established, if an individual desires not to allow bullfighting, this is their individual moral truth. In response to Russell, Harman would proclaim that although there is no single true morality, the determinant of morality is relative to the agents in each particular culture. Harman…

William Lyon Phelps , an American educator, believes that absolute certainty is the key to accomplishing anything. On the other hand, Bertrand Russell, a British author and philosopher believes that people should be doubtful and not so dogmatic in their ideologies. Both scholars make good points about the relationship between doubt, certainty and success, however it is a mix of both these philosophies that will deliver the most success in an individual's life. You should always be certain…

In this essay, I will be examining the different views pertaining to the cosmological argument for the existence of God as discussed by Bertrand Russell and Fr. Copleston. I will be agreeing with Lord Russell’s views that the cosmological argument has a few inherent problems and contradictions that are difficult to overcome. First, I will look at Russell's assessment on his points of necessary and analytic propositions as well as his belief that Copleston’s argument on contingency is a fallacy…

are other people's out in the community suffering but we shouldn’t attempt to help because it is for our own survival. This weighs heavily on the conscience, making it difficult to enjoy things that bring joy or as Russell claims, a feeling of inclusiveness with the community (Russell 364). Both Singer’s and Hardin’s arguments are extremes at opposite ends and a “good life” is somewhere in…

Lecturer Adnan Riaz Date: December 5, 2017 “The underlying assumption is that reality, as opposed to appearance, is completely and perfectly good; to perceive the good, therefore, is to perceive reality”. (The History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell, page 126, chapter XV, topic, The Theory of Ideas,) Appearance is the outward look of a person or thing. Appearance also means the condition, state, manner or style in which a person or object appears, and the reality means the…

In American culture, achieving the American Dream involved pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and working hard to reach your goals and dreams. It often lead to you being free of financial worries, obtaining a nice house and cars, and retiring with a nice sum of money to live out your life in comfortable and stability. Work is essential for achieving this dream. You have to do it, whether you like it or not, to earn a livelihood and/or to support your family. Essentially, it is our…