Russell on Metaphysics: Selections from the Writings of Bertrand Russell (Russellon)

Russell on Metaphysics brings together for the first time a comprehensive selection of Russell's writings on metaphysics in one volume. Russell's major and lasting contribution to metaphysics has been hugely influential and his insights have led to the establishment of analytic philosophy as a dominant stream in philosophy. Stephen Mumford chronicles the metaphysical nature of these insights through accessible introductions to the texts, setting them in context and understanding their continued importance. Russell on Metaphysics is both a valuable introduction to Bertrand Russell as a metaphysician, and an introduction to analytic philosophy and its history. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Acknowledgements......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 Idealism......Page 20 Greek exercises......Page 22 On the distinction between the psychological and metaphysical points of view......Page 30 The free-will problem from an idealist standpoint......Page 34 The dialectic of the sciences......Page 46 Seems, madam? Nay, it is......Page 61 Ontology (I)......Page 70 The principles of mathematics......Page 72 The existential import of propositions......Page 86 Three letters to Meinong......Page 90 The basis of realism......Page 94 Analytic realism......Page 100 The philosophy of logical atomism......Page 106 Universals......Page 130 On the relations of universals and particulars......Page 132 The problem of universals......Page 152 Causality and laws......Page 170 On the notion of cause......Page 172 Causal laws in physics......Page 192 Physics and metaphysics......Page 200 Causal laws......Page 208 Ontology (II)......Page 218 Vagueness......Page 220 Physics and neutral monism......Page 230 Language and metaphysics......Page 240 The principle of individuation......Page 246 Bibliography......Page 257 Index......Page 260 Humanities Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 Acknowledgements 8 Introduction 10 Idealism 20 Greek exercises 22 On the distinction between the psychological and metaphysical points of view 30 The free-will problem from an idealist standpoint 34 The dialectic of the sciences 46 Seems, madam? Nay, it is 61 Ontology (I) 70 The principles of mathematics 72 The existential import of propositions 86 Three letters to Meinong 90 The basis of realism 94 Analytic realism 100 The philosophy of logical atomism 106 Universals 130 On the relations of universals and particulars 132 The problem of universals 152 Causality and laws 170 On the notion of cause 172 Causal laws in physics 192 Physics and metaphysics 200 Causal laws 208 Ontology (II) 218 Vagueness 220 Physics and neutral monism 230 Language and metaphysics 240 The principle of individuation 246 Bibliography 257 Index 260

Is the world of appearances the real world?

Are there facts that exist independently of our minds?

Are there vague objects?

Russell on Metaphysics brings together for the first time a comprehensive selection of Russell's writing on metaphysics in one volume. Russell's major and lasting contribution to metaphysics has been hugely influential and his insights have led to the establishment of analytic philosophy as a dominant stream in philosophy. Stephen Mumford chronicles the metaphysical nature of these insights through accessible introductions to the texts, setting them in context and understanding their continued importance. Russell on Metaphysics is both a valuable introduction to Bertrand Russell as a metaphysician, and an introduction to analytic philosophy and its history.

Is the world of appearances the real world? Are there facts that exist independently of our minds? Are there vague objects? Russell on Metaphysics brings together for the first time a comprehensive selection of Russell's writing on metaphysics in one volume. Russell's major and lasting contribution to metaphysics has been hugely influential and his insights have led to the establishment of analytic philosophy as a dominant stream in philosophy. Stephen Mumford chronicles the metaphysical nature of these insights through accessible introductions to the texts, setting them in context and understanding their continued importance. Russell on Metaphysics is both a valuable introduction to Bertrand Russell as a metaphysician, and an introduction to analytic philosophy and its history. Russell on Metaphysics brings together for the first time a comprehensive selection of Russell's writing on metaphysics in one volume. Russell's major and lasting contribution to metaphysics has been hugely influential and his insights have led to the establishment of analytic philosophy as a dominant stream in philosophy. Stephen Mumford chronicles the metaphysical nature of these insights through accessible introductions to the texts, setting them in context and understanding their continuing importance. Russell on Metaphysics is both a valuable introduction to Bertrand Russell as a metaphysician, and to analytic philosophy and its history. After Russell's parents died, against their wishes he was given a religious Victorian upbringing mainly by his formidable grandmother, Lady Russell.