Book description
Philosophy for busy people. Read a succinct account of the philosophy
of Russell in just one hour.
Bertrand Russell claimed to be driven by three great passions that drove
his personal as well as his intellectual life: a longing for love, a
quest for knowledge and a heart-rending pity for human suffering. His
philosophical outlook, which took deep account of the science of his
time, was nonetheless rooted in logic and empiricism. Russell's greatest
efforts were made in epistemology - the search for the ultimate grounds
of our knowledge about the world. How can we be certain that what we
know is true? Where lies the certainty in our experience of the world?
Here is a concise, expert account of Bertrand Russell's life and
philosophical ideas - entertainingly written and easy to understand.
Also included are selections from Bertrand Russell's work, suggested
further reading, and chronologies that place Russell in the context of
the broader scheme of philosophy. 'Well-written, clear and informed,
they have a breezy wit about them . . .I find them hard to stop
reading.' New York Times
'Witty, illuminating, and blessedly concise' Wall Street Journal
'Each of these little books is witty and dramatic and creates a sense of
time, place, and character . . . I cannot think of a better way to
introduce oneself and one's friends to Western civilization.' Boston Globe
'A godsend in this era of the short attention span.' New York Times
Paul Strathern has lectured in philosophy and mathematics and now lives
and writes in London. A Somerset Maugham prize winner, he is also the
author of books on history and travel as well as five novels. His
articles have appeared in a great many publications including the
Observer (London) and the Irish Times. His own degree in philosophy was
earned at Trinity College, Dublin.
