History of Western Philosophy - Deepstash

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BERTRAND RUSSELL

To understand an age or a nation, we must understand its philosophy, and to understand its philosophy we must ourselves be in some degree philosophers

BERTRAND RUSSELL

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37 reads

Epistemology as Philosophy’s Core Inquiry

  • The theory of knowledge has become central to philosophy since Descartes
  • Russell highlights the influence of subjectivism, derived from modern epistemological concerns

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36 reads

Skepticism: Hume's Radical Impact

  • Hume argued that no beliefs are rationally grounded; they rest on habit
  • This skepticism challenges the basis of empiricism, leading to subsequent philosophical shifts

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27 reads

The Role of Logic in Modern Epistemology

  • Analytical empiricism combines mathematics and logic to bring clarity to philosophical questions
  • Russell believes that applying scientific rigor to epistemology can resolve longstanding philosophical problems

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23 reads

Limits of Empirical Knowledge

  • While empirical methods excel in science, they struggle to address questions of value and existence
  • Russell acknowledges that certain philosophical issues lie beyond the reach of empirical investigation

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15 reads

Philosophy’s Relationship with Science and Theology

  • Philosophy navigates between theology's dogmatism and science's precision, exploring unanswered questions
  • It seeks to understand the deeper aspects of existence that neither science nor theology can fully explain

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12 reads

Epistemological Humility Against Cosmic Impiety

  • Modern epistemology encourages humility before the unknown, guarding against overconfidence
  • Russell stresses the importance of recognizing the limits of human knowledge and resisting cosmic arrogance

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13 reads

IDEAS CURATED BY

gbiondizoccai

Giuseppe Biondi-Zoccai is a renowned expert in cardiology, medical research methodology and evidence synthesis

CURATOR'S NOTE

Bertrand Russell's A History of Western Philosophy emphasizes the central role of epistemology in modern philosophy, exploring the evolution of knowledge theories. It highlights skepticism's impact, the integration of logic in clarifying philosophical questions, and the limits of empirical methods. The book underscores philosophy's unique position between science and theology.

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