Value of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell is a discussion and analysis of the importance of philosophy to people's lives, vis-a-vis existing sciences and other fields of knowledge. In this essay, Russell contemplates and tries to identify the real meaning and definition of philosophy. In doing so, he compares philosophy to the sciences, where he defines the latter as "definite body of truths," while the former, as a discipline with no definite answer(s). This is because primarily, philosophy "aims primarily at knowledge," and with the acquisition of knowledge, one sets out to look for the truth constantly and throughout his/her life. People who have been acquainted with the sciences, since this field of thought is definitive, tend to think of the realities that we experience as definite also, subject to various answers that are certain.
Indeed, because the sciences are definitive, we tend to think that this is preferable over philosophy,…...

Following Aquinas's argumentation, we will reasonably ask ourselves, at a certain point, what the cause of what was considered to be the First Cause is. However, with the temporal cause, we may not assume an extra cause, because there will have been no prior time at which this cause may have occurred. As such, this "definition implies that the universe cannot be caused to begin to exist since there is no earlier time at which the cause could occur."
Resuming, in order to reject the argument of efficient causation summarized by Aquinas, we would need to either assume that all objects are contingent (first of Russell's argumentations) or to assume that there was a temporal cause, in the sense that the First Cause simply could not have existed because there was no prior time.

ibliography

1. Russell, ertrand. Why I am not a Theist. On the Internet at http://jumper52.cjb.cc/russell.htm

2. Saint Thomas Aquinas.…...

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Bibliography

1. Russell, Bertrand. Why I am not a Theist. On the Internet at http://jumper52.cjb.cc/russell.htm

2. Saint Thomas Aquinas. The Existence of God. On the Internet at http://jumper52.cjb.cc/aquinas.htm

3. Smith, Quentin. CAUSATION and the LOGICAL IMPOSSIBILITY of a DIVINE CAUSE (1996). Philosophical Topics, Volume 21, Number 1, Spring 1996, pp. 169-191. On the Internet at  http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/quentin_smith/causation.html 

4. Depoe, John. DOES the COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENTREALLY ASSUME the ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT?. Baylor University. December 2002. Excellent description on Russell's failed refutations. On the Internet at www.johndepoe.com/cosmo_argument.pdf

Skepticism
Bertrand Russel and Ludwig ittgenstein's personal and professional relationship is well-known, with Russel having famously sponsored ittgenstein's submission of Tractatus Logic-Philosophicus for PhD credit at Cambridge University. Both philosophers were important early contributors to the theory of logical atomism, and although they would both go on to reject many of the ideas central to logical atomism, their work nevertheless represented an important break from philosophical Idealism and set the stage for the developments of the twentieth century (Hylton 105, 116). However, despite the general agreement between Russel's The Philosophy of Logical Atomism and ittgenstein's Tractatus, the philosophers disagree on the question of skepticism. For Russel, skepticism is an irrefutable position, whereas ittgenstein characteristically describes skepticism as being "palpably senseless" (ittgenstein 187). Fully understanding ittgenstein's meaning requires an analysis of the role of skepticism in both Russel and ittgenstein's work, but ultimately one can say with relative confidence that ittgenstein is…...

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Works Cited

Anscombe, G.E.. An Introduction to Wittgenstein's Tractatus. London: Thoemmes Press, 1996.

Print.

Griffin, James. Wittgenstein's Logical Atomism. London: Thoemmes Press, 1997. Print.

Hylton, Peter. Russell, idealism, and the emergence of analytic philosophy. Oxford: Oxford

Bertrand ussell on Truth
Can We Be Sure of the Truth of Any General Principle?

In Problems of Philosophy, Bertrand ussell addresses the subject of induction. It forms the basis of his assertions related to knowledge and truth beyond experience or acquaintance. In general, he posits that we draw inferences based upon general principles and expectations to make meaning of our world beyond the range of our immediate experience and formulate truth. In order to draw an inference, it must be known that "some sort of thing, A, is a sign of the existence of some other sort of thing, B" (ussell 35). The existence of night usually signifies that it was preceded by day. ussell offers that we make these inferential judgments on a constant basis, even in situations where they are improbable.

ussell uses the general expectation that the sun will rise as the basis of his arguments on induction (32).…...

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Reference

Russell, Bertrand. The problems of philosophy by Bertrand Russell Williams and Norgate; Henry Holt, London: N.Y. 1918.

Although no American would have hoped for war, the complete industrialization of formerly fallow aspects of American industry enabled many Americans to become financially independent again, and proved particularly personally empowering for many women, who were encouraged to work outside the home in nontraditional, better paying factory jobs rather than work at home -- or at non-industrial jobs. A return to industrialization and the expansion of technology empowered all workers, and brought dignity and security to the lives of many Americans, dignity that they had not known since before the Great Depression
After the end of orld ar II, one might argue that fear of new technology, in the form of the prospect of the Soviet Union using the atomic bomb against America, allowed for the rise of McCarthyism. However, it is important to remember that fear of the unknown and the alien, in this case, the Soviet Union, is…...

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Works Cited

Fishman, Charles. "Global fishiness." Excerpt from the Wal-Mart Effect at Salon.com.

23 Jan 2006. 2 May 2007.  http://www.salon.com/tech/books/2006/01/23/walmart_effect/ 

From the New Deal to a New Century: About TVA." TVA Government Website. 2007.

May 2007.  http://www.tva.gov/abouttva/history.htm

Freud, Nietzsche & Russell
The Discovery and Realization of the Self in the Philosophies of Bertrand Russell, Sigmund Freud and Friedrich Nietzsche

With the emergence of nineteenth and twentieth centuries, human history had been introduced to new philosophies that seek to celebrate individualism and the intelligence of human beings. From the philosophical discourses proposed by Sigmund Freud, Bertrand Russell, and Friedrich Nietzsche, it becomes evident that there no longer exists subsistence to religious idols and personalities, which had been the prevalent ideology and philosophy among societies in human history's early history until the 18th century.

In the texts that follow, this paper discusses and analyzes the philosophies of the three philosophers cited earlier. With references to the following texts, "Thus spake Zarathustra" by Friedrich Nietzsche, "Why I am not a Christian" by Bertrand Russell, and "Lecture 35: A philosophy of life" by Sigmund Freud, this paper argues that the philosophers' belief in the…...

belief -- or idealism -- and the way humans must evolve through a process to become actualized. In essence, we are presented with a dark cave in which there are prisoners who have been chained since birth so they can look only forward. Behind these unfortunates is a fire, the only light in their universe. Behind the fire are people manipulating puppets so that shadows are cast on the walls. So, the only "reality" the prisoners know are the lessons from the shadows -- reality, or their view of idealism. If suddenly a prisoner is freed he notices that the shadows are not real, but the puppets are. Now imagine if this same prisoner is forced out of the cave and into the light. As soon as the pain from the brightness diminishes he discovers that the most real things, the ideal, are those physical outside of the cave…...

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REFERENCES

Haisch, B. (2007). Preface to the God Theory. TheGodTheory.com. Retrieved from:  http://www.thegodtheory.com/preface.htm 

Huard, R.L. (2006). Plato's Political Philosophy: The Cave. New York: Penguin.

Monk, R. (2004, March). Bertrand Russell. Retrieved from Oxford Dictionary of National Biography:  http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/35/101035875/ 

Russell, B. (2004, March). The Problems of Philosophy. Retrieved December 2011, from Skepdic.com:  http://www.skepdic.com/russell.html

The central ideas about this knowledge may be categorized into four parts: knowledge, wisdom, belief, and opinion. Some are individualized -- some culturally based, some based solely on sensory perception, and some, from consideration. In its most practical state, "knowledge" may be information about which we are aware -- facts, figures, accepted truths, ways of doing things. Wisdom, in contrast, takes that knowledge and allows individuals to make judgments and decisions based on knowledge -- presumably gained through experience or the process of learning. Belief is a culturally (thus cognitively) based make up of what we hold to be true simply because we innately know it without the need of proof or method. Opinion, is a personalized belief of judgment that has no proof, no certainty, but generally takes in information (whether correct or not) and synthesizes it into an idea that allows for individuals to have stands and strong…...

Characteristics
Fulfillment in Life

The aim of this discussion to ascertain three of the qualities a person needs so that they can lead a life of fulfillment. The three qualities discussed will be love, integrity and knowledge. These three traits are part of the essence of being human and, combined with other humanistic traits such as sympathy and passion, these traits separate humans from the other, soulless animals in the world.

The first of these qualities to discuss is love. Love is a quality that no life can be without. The ability to build nurturing and loving relationships with another person is integral to our emotional fulfillment. It brings us the greatest joy we can possibly experience. Love can do many things including alleviating loneliness, such as the kind of "terrible loneliness in which one's shivering consciousness looks over the rim of the world into the cold, unfathomable abyss" (ussell, 1967). Without…...

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References

Carter, S.L. (February 1996). The Insufficiency of Honesty. Atlantic Monthly, 74-76.

Russell, B. (1967). Autobiography of Bertrand Russell. London: Allen & Unwin.

Science
Philosophy Inherent in Science

Explanation in Science

This summary was a review of Carl G. Hempel's "Explanation In Science," which was reprinted from "Scientific Knowledge" and was edited by Janet A. Kovoany. Carl Hempel was well-known for his scientific explanation concept which has become the foundaton of many modern day philosophical discussions on the purpose and logic of science. Hempel's work was insightful and it was founded on the basis that man uses science to continually improve his current situation or 'strategic position' by either prediciting or controlling events and things around us. Hempel professed that we as a species are impelled to satisfy an inner curiosity and need to explain all that is around us and all that is unexplainable. In my researching Carl Hempel I discovered that his peers saw him as a man who was on the level of Socrates and his true genious can has been demonstrated…...

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References

Feynman, Richard (YEAR). "Seeking New Laws of Nature." What Does Science Tell Me About the World.

Hempel, Carl G., edited by Janet A. Kovoany (1998). "Explanation In Science." Reprinted from Scientific Knowledge.

Russell, Bertrand (1959). "Understanding the Cosmos." My Present View of the World.

.. The actual universe, with all its good and evil, exists on the basis of God's will and receives its meaning from His purpose. However, these two conclusions do not stand in simple contradiction, to one another. The one says that evil is bad, harmful, destructive, fearful and to be fought against as a matter of ultimate life and death. But the other does not deny this. It does not say that evil is not fearful and threatening, inimical to all good and to be absolutely resisted. It says that God has ordained a world which contains evil- real evil- as a means to the creation of the infinite good of a Kingdom of Heaven within which His creatures will have come as perfected persons to love and serve Him through a process in which their own free insight and response have been an essential element."

(Hick, 1978)

Arthur Schopenhauer, Bertrand ussell…...

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References

Bowker, John. The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions.

New York: Oxford, 1997

Einstein, Albert. Ideas and Opinions.

New York: Crown, 1954

Essay Topic Examples
1. The Evolution and Significance of Correspondence Theory:
This essay explores the historical development of the correspondence theory of truth from its origins in ancient Greek philosophy to its contemporary formulations. It discusses the main contributors to the theory, evaluates their arguments, and examines the ongoing relevance of correspondence theory in the current philosophical discourse.

2. Challenges and Criticisms of Correspondence Theory:
Aimed at discussing the major philosophical objections to correspondence theory, this essay analyzes the critiques offered by pragmatists, coherence theorists, and postmodernists. It scrutinizes how well correspondence theory withstands these challenges and what revisions or responses have been proposed to maintain its viability.

3. Correspondence Theory vs. Coherence Theory of Truth:
This essay contrasts correspondence theory with coherence theory, two competing theories of truth. It delves into the key tenets of each theory, the philosophical implications of adopting one over the other, and the practical consequences for epistemology,…...

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Primary Sources

Russell, Bertrand. \"On the Nature of Truth.\" Proceeding of the Aristotelian Society, vol. 7, 1906-1907, pp. 228-249.

David, Marian. \"Truth and Correspondence.\" Entry in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2016 Edition), edited by Edward N. Zalta, 2016.

Field, Hartry. \"Tarski\'s Theory of Truth.\" The Journal of Philosophy, vol. 69, no. 13, 1972, pp. 347-375.

Armstrong, D. M. \"A World of States of Affairs.\" Philosophical Perspectives, vol. 7, 1993, pp. 429-440.

Mulligan, Kevin, Peter Simons, and Barry Smith. \"Truth-Makers.\" Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, vol. 44, no. 3, 1984, pp. 287-321.

Gardner, like Emerson, Russell, and Einstein, also criticizes the substantive choice of subject matter and the ineficiency with which traditional educational methods inspire genuine understanding or long-term retention of what is learned that way.

I think that we teach way too many subjects and we cover way too much material and the end result is that students have a very superficial knowledge, as we often say, a mile wide and an inch deep. Then once they leave school, almost everything's been forgotten. And I think that school needs to change to have a few priorities and to really go into those priorities very deeply." (Gardner 3007)

Similarly, Gardner (2007) emphasizes the importance of transforming the educational environment from the accumulative approach of traditional education and the NCL approach to one that mirrors the suggestions of Emerson, Russel, and Einstein:

we need to have the individuals who are involved in education, primarily teachers and…...

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BIBLIOGRAPHY Einstein, a. (1936) on Education (From Ideas and Opinions.) New York: Crown Emerson, R.W., (1884) on Education (From a World of Ideas). Friere, P. (1972) the Banking Concept of Education (From a World of Ideas)

Gardner, H. (2000) the Disciplined Mind: Beyond Facts and Standardized Tests: The K-12 Education That Every Child Deserves.

New York: Penguin Putnam.

Gardner, H. (2007): Multiple Intelligences and New Forms of Assessment. Edutopia: What Works in Public Education the George Lucas Educational Foundation. Retrieved June 30, at  http://www.edutopia.org/howard-gardner-interview#graph5 

Russell, B. (1926) the Functions of a Teacher (From the Basic Writings of Bertrand Russell. London: Routledge.

Since this simplifies and organizes our experience of the world, it is wiser to accept the value of truth of this belief.
If Russell questioned the existence of matter, Aristotle was concerned with its nature. According to him, all the things which come into existence must come from a substratum (which is the very nature of matter). Nevertheless, should this underlying matter of the universe come from another, already-existing underlying matter, this judgement results self-contradictory. On the other hand, nothing can be generated ex-nihilo, therefore, it can only be concluded that in order to exist, matter needs to be possible. However, possibility can not exist in itself, but must be conceived as residing in something else. And here one could bring Spinoza's conceptions into discussion. In his opinion things can exist or in themselves or in something else. Since God is the only one who can exist through himself and…...

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Bibliography

Aristotle. Physics. Trans. Waterfield, Robin.Oxford University Press, 2008

Descartes, Rene. Discourse on method. Kindle Edition, 2006

Gould, James. The existence of absolute space. 16 November 2008 <  https://kb.osu.edu/dspace/bitstream/1811/4849/1/V62N02_101.pdf 

Russell, Bertrand. Problems of philosophy. Book Jungle, 2008

Meanwhile, it is the high-earning but consumption-oriented under accumulators of wealth (UAWs) who patronize luxury car dealerships, high-end country clubs, and so- called "high fashion" clothing manufacturers. In this regard, one of the most powerful influences motivating such irresponsible consumption is the concentration of media attention on relatively few wealthy celebrities whose model of ostentatious consumption is simply not representative of the habits of most Americans with equally high net worth (Stanley & Danko 1996).
Whereas many PAWs earn substantially less than some of their UAW counterparts, they invest a substantial portion of their salaries into long-term stable investments that translate into a secure financial future. Conversely, the typical UAW, many of whom are so-called "successful professionals" earning very high salaries, increases spending to match any increase in income. As a result of continually "trading up" to the most expensive car, home, and clothing they can afford at any given…...

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References

Branden, N. (1985) Honoring the Self: The Psychology of Confidence and Respect. New York: Bantam

Einstein, a. (1954) Ideas and Opinions. New York: Crown

Lowenstein, R. (2007) Subprime Time: How Did Home Ownership Become So Rickety? New York Times Magazine; Sept. 2/07

Mills, C. (1953) White Collar: The American Middle Class. New York: Oxford University Press.