The Value of Philosophy: Analysis of Bertrand Russell's Perspective

This essay critically analyzes the value of philosophy, drawing heavily on the ideas of Bertrand Russell, particularly from his work 'The Problems of Philosophy.' The paper explores Russell's arguments for the importance of philosophy, highlighting its role in liberating individuals from prejudice, fostering critical thinking, and expanding the scope of human understanding. It discusses Russell's concept of sense-data and how philosophy helps in moving towards real knowledge through reasoning. The essay also addresses the common criticisms of philosophy, such as its lack of tangible results, and counters these by emphasizing its significance in personal development, intellectual enrichment, and the enlargement of human minds. The essay further touches upon how Russell's views contribute to ongoing philosophical debates. The essay concludes by emphasizing the value of studying philosophy not for definitive answers, but for the questions it raises, which enrich intellectual imagination and diminish dogmatic assurance, ultimately fostering a deeper union with the universe and contributing to human greatness.

Running head: THE VALUE OF PHILOSOPHY
THE VALUE OF PHILOSOPHY
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1THE VALUE OF PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy has been a way of perceiving the reality with the help of logic and reasons. It
helps in analyzing the world in a way in which humans experience the world1. The Nobel prize-
winning philosopher Bertrand Russell is one of the greatest logicians of the 20th century who
have explains the significance of philosophy in his work, ‘The problems of Philosophy’2.
According to Russell, philosophy is chiefly important for the fact it liberate an individual from
his or her own prejudice. The paper aims to develop critical response towards the value of
philosophy in the world. The papers will discuss the concept of philosophy along with its
significance of it considering the points represented by Bertrand Russell.
According to Hartshorne3 Bertrand Russell was a mathematician, philosopher and social
reformer of 20th century. He begins with an examination of the things that are considered as the
‘practical’ man. The definition of practical man is someone who recognizes only material needs
and believes food must be consumed for the body however is unaware that food is necessary for
the mind as well. This is the place where the importance of philosophy can be observed.
Philosophy is the food for the mind even though any Tangible result is not obtained through it.
According to Russell, philosophy is never ending filed of knowledge. When a philosopher finds
something that is known in philosophy, it becomes a filed in itself with endless directions. In
philosophy, the work is never complete however it is always on the verge of exploration by
philosophers. The view of philosophy appears from a wrong conception however while it is
investigated and pondered by the philosophers with reasoning and logical thinking it helps in
achieving an end result that gives justification of a phenomenon. Russell continues further by
stating that man who has no tincture of philosophy belong to a world of prejudices and contribute
1 Russell, Bertrand. The conquest of happiness. Routledge, 2015.
2 Reinhardt, Lloyd. "Bertrand Russell's triumph and failure." Think 15, no. 42 (2016): 79-95.
3 Hartshorne, Charles. Beyond humanism: Essays in the philosophy of nature. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2017.

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to make decisions on the basis of knowledge that is obtained through common sense. The
common sense is achieved from the habitual beliefs of surrounding that speaks of his nation, age
and convictions that have grown up in his mind without the deliberate person’s consent or co-
operation. In addition to that a man like that tends to become obvious, definite and finite which
are the common objects. These do not lead to arousal of any critical thinking, questions and
unfamiliar possibilities which are often rejected without paying much attention.
The philosophical contemplation is important and it is the path to greater possibilities4.
According to Russell, the mind that is accustomed to the independency and freedom of
philosophic contemplation will always preserve something of the same freedom and impartiality
in the world of emotions and actions. Through contemplation, it is not only the objects of human
thoughts that get enlarged but also the objects of human actions and their affections5.
Contemplation of philosophy makes human citizen of the universe and not a citizen of one
walled city at war along with rest of the people. a man’s true freedom and his liberation is
achieved in this citizenship of the universe from the thralldom of narrow hopes and fears.
Russell’s chief innovation with ‘The Problem of philosophy’ was the development of the
concept of sense-data. The data an individual receives through common sense. It has been stated
earlier that any knowledge that is gained through common sense or any forms sensory
knowledge is nothing more than simple opinion. Therefore, in order to move towards the real
knowledge one must use the skill of reasoning and logical thinking. Philosophy helps man to
improve critical thinking skills as stated by the Russell. He has pointed out in his work ‘the value
of philosophy’ in many a place. His work holds a fundamental relevance for the investigation of
4 Kuhn, Thomas. "The Relations between the History and the Philosophy of Science." Philosophy, Science, and
History: A Guide and Reader (2014): 95-105.
5 Swan, Melanie, and Primavera De Filippi. "Toward a Philosophy of Blockchain: A Symposium:
Introduction." Metaphilosophy 48, no. 5 (2017): 603-619.

3THE VALUE OF PHILOSOPHY
the ordinary lives. It has the capability changing the way an individual perceives the world. He
has stated many a things that have been discussed by the other philosophers as well. Also,
philosophy is a good way to know several things that are crucial in human life such as
discrimination and prejudice behavior. Often many scholars argue that philosophy do not have
the relevance of the philosophy as it does not have any tangible result such as the other science
subjects. It is only due to the fact that they are mainly about providing with knowledge of some
sort that is considered practical. Practical fields are for the purpose of helping improve
individuals’ abilities in order to do something by using them.
It can be stated that Russell’s perspective is as significant as it was when it was
established a hundred years ago. Often philosophy is considered to be a daunting subject that that
is beyond the understanding capability of average man. It is seen perfectly suitable for the people
with too much time on their hands or scholars. He even provided the significant insights that
even though philosophical endeavors may not lead to the advancement of any tangible objects or
material needs6. However it may lead to human’s personal development and advancement
through the liberation of human ignorance and provide a greater dominance on over own
thoughts and actions. Philosophy is a subject that helps in achieving the greater insights and it is
a conquest in order to overcome human’s beliefs that are rigid in nature and therefore creates
hindrance from progress. Philosophy is the tool for enlarging human minds that opens a world of
wonder7.
Summing up his perspective and the discussion done above, the subjects philosophy
requires to be studied not in order to answer some of the definite answers to certain question as
the entire concept of true answers is subjective. There are no answers that can be stated as the
6 Drakeman, Donald. Why We Need the Humanities: Life Science, Law and the Common Good. Springer, 2016.
7 Chalmers, David J. "Why isn't there more progress in philosophy?." Philosophy 90, no. 1 (2015): 3-31.

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truth. However philosophy should be studied for the sake of the questions themselves. It is
through these questions that people enlarge their conceptions of the things that are possible in the
world8. These questions help in enriching the intellectual imaginations and diminish the
dogmatic assurance that closes the mind against speculation. Also, it is important to mention that
even above all these factors , through the greatness of the universe which philosophy
contemplates, the mind become capable of that union with the universe that constitute its highest
good and the it is rendered great.
According to Chase and Reynolds9 Philosophers today debate in regard to the field of
philosophy that offers fresh insights. In the discussion and debate Russell contributes greatly. He
have raised the flag of logical-analytic flag and he did that before he remained equally as well as
important aspects concerning ‘the value of philosophy’. Russell has discussed the impairing
influence of the idealist position even in his last words of the book. The widespread tendency
towards the perspective that informs that human is the measure of all things and truth is man-
made. it is the that which involves space and time and it is the properties of mind that includes
the world of universals. Anything that is not created by the mind it is only unknown. Therefore,
it is a position that robs philosophy of its value as it fetters contemplation to the self. This
specific perspective puts an impenetrable veil between human and the world beyond. Also, it can
be observed that Russell has analyzed away the idealistic veil that have taken the position of
denial of the fact that physical world existed independent of a mind. Through this process
Russell have formed his own veil that opposes the idealistic view in The Problem of Philosophy.
According to Russell material objects were real and independent of a mind. Humans were
acquainted with any of these is not he believed. Therefore, the veil remains intact.
8 Goldstein, Rebecca. Plato at the Googleplex: Why philosophy won't go away. Vintage, 2015.
9 Chase, James, and Jack Reynolds. Analytic versus continental: Arguments on the methods and value of philosophy.
Routledge, 2014.

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As discussed above, Philosophy has been a way of perceiving the reality with the help of
logic and reasons. It helps in analyzing the world in a way in which humans experience the
world. The Nobel prize-winning philosopher Bertrand Russell is one of the greatest logicians of
the 20th century who have explains the significance of philosophy in his work, ‘The problems of
Philosophy’. Russell has certainly presented a logical reason for studying philosophy and
understanding the value of philosophy. Although philosophy does not provide tangible results, it
plays a significant role in developing human minds and changing the society.

6THE VALUE OF PHILOSOPHY
References:
Chalmers, David J. "Why isn't there more progress in philosophy?." Philosophy 90, no. 1 (2015):
3-31.
Chase, James, and Jack Reynolds. Analytic versus continental: Arguments on the methods and
value of philosophy. Routledge, 2014.
Drakeman, Donald. Why We Need the Humanities: Life Science, Law and the Common Good.
Springer, 2016.
Goldstein, Rebecca. Plato at the Googleplex: Why philosophy won't go away. Vintage, 2015.
Hartshorne, Charles. Beyond humanism: Essays in the philosophy of nature. Wipf and Stock
Publishers, 2017.
Kuhn, Thomas. "The Relations between the History and the Philosophy of Science." Philosophy,
Science, and History: A Guide and Reader (2014): 95-105.
Reinhardt, Lloyd. "Bertrand Russell's triumph and failure." Think 15, no. 42 (2016): 79-95.
Russell, Bertrand. The conquest of happiness. Routledge, 2015.
Swan, Melanie, and Primavera De Filippi. "Toward a Philosophy of Blockchain: A Symposium:
Introduction." Metaphilosophy 48, no. 5 (2017): 603-619.