Basic Writings of Bertrand Russell

by Bertrand Russell

Few philosophers have had a more profound influence on the course of modern philosophy than Bertrand Russell. The Basic Writings of Bertrand Russell is a comprehensive anthology of Russell’s most definitive essays written between 1903 and 1959. First published in 1961, this remarkable collection is a testament to a philosopher whom many consider to be one of the most influential thinkers of the twentieth century. This is an essential introduction to the brilliance of Bertrand Russell.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, History, Politics, Essays, Psychology, Classics

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS, was a Welsh philosopher, historian, logician, mathematician, advocate for social reform, pacifist, and prominent rationalist. Although he was usually regarded as English, as he spent the majority of his life in England, he was born in Wales, where he also died.

He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950 "in recognition of his varied and significant writings in which he champions humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought."

Reviews

[Peiman E iran · Rating 5 out of 5]

دوستانِ گرانقدر، این کتابِ ارزشمند، از نوشته ها و مقاله هایِ پایه ای و اساسیِ «برتراند راسل» بزرگوار و اندیشمند تشکیل شده است... بدونِ تردید، زنده یاد برتراند راسل، بزرگترین فیلسوفِ طولِ تاریخ است.. برتراند راسل، هیچگاه همچون دکارت و هگل و دیگر نویسندگان فلسفی، قلمبه سلمبه نویسی نکرد و هرچه برایِ آموزش ما نیاز بود را به بهترین شکل ممکن ساده نویسی کرد و به ما آموخت
در زیر به انتخاب، نوشته هایی از این کتاب را برایِ شما دوستانِ همیشه آگاه، مینویسم
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من نه "مقدسات" را قبول دارم و نه موهوماتی همچون "مقدس" را میشناسم.. بارها در سخنرانی ها گفتم و در مقالاتم نوشتم که جوانانِ بیچاره و دانشجویان را نباید مجبور کرد تا به مکتبها و احزاب و گرایشهایِ دینی و مذهبی باور و ایمان داشته باشند.. این جوانان باید به شواهدی باور داشته باشند که به چشم دیده میشود و در زندگی میتوان آن را به کمکِ دانش اثبات نمود و با حواسِ پنجگانه قابلِ درک و فهم است... جایگزینیِ گواه و مدرک و سندِ خردمندانه به جایِ خزعبلات و موهوماتِ دروغین، به عنوانِ بنیادی برایِ «باور» از دستاوردهایِ بزرگ و ارزشمندی میباشد، که دانش و خرد، به ما انسانها هدیه کرده است... هیچگاه تسلیمِ موجوداتی نشوید که به دیدگاهِ علمی و خردگرایی باور ندارند
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در قدیم یک نگرش اشتباه وجود داشت و آن هم این بود که به جایِ آنکه فلسفه را یک شاخه از دانش به شمار بیاورند، آن را در شاخۀ موهوماتی همچون "الهیات" تصور میکردند.. هر چیزی مثلِ الهیات که به اصطلاح از موهومات و مواردِ نامشخص ریشه گرفته است و غیرقابلِ تغییر و ویرایش باشد، دلیلی بر درجا زدن هایِ ذهنی خواهد بود.. در صورتیکه یک فیلسوف و یا یک دانشمند، میتوانند در طولِ زندگی بارها نظریات و باورهایِ خویش را تغییر دهند... من نیز بارها دیدگاهم در مواردِ گوناگونِ علمی و فلسفی دچارِ تغییر و دگرگونی شده است
چگونه میشود کسی از فلسفه و دانش سخن بگوید، ولی به این ایمان داشته باشد که بر برخی از انسانها در تاریخ "وحی" نازل میشده!!! و یا از سویِ موجودی نامشخص و ناپیدا، به برخی از انسانها "الهامات غیبی" میرسیده است... بسیار خنده دار و مسخره است.. چگونه انسانِ متمدن به این موهومات باور دارد؟ این تفاوتِ الهیات با فلسفه و دانش است
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رشد و پیشرفتِ فلسفی، مانندِ روشنی و نمایان شدنِ خطوطِ بیرونیِ یک کوهِ بلند است... زمانی که از میانِ ابرها و مه به آن نزدیک میشوید، به صورتِ مبهمی این خطوط نمایان میشود و حتی وقتی به آن نزدیکتر هم میشوید، بازهم تا حدودی خطوطِ کوه نمایان نمیشود.. آنچه هرگز نتوانستم آن را تأیید کنم، این بود که مه و غبارِ دیده شده، ممکن است حاویِ عناصرِ ارزشمندی از حقیقت باشد... کسانی هستند که میپندارند، روشنی و شفافیت از آنجایی که کمیاب و دشوار است، باید محلِ شک و تردید باشد.. ردِ این نظریه، عمیقترین انگیزه در همۀ آثارِ فلسفیِ من بوده است
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تصوری که قانونِ جزا از هویتِ انسانی دارد و نیز فرایندِ عجیب و برعکس برایِ اعطایِ مدالِ افتخار به جانیان و آدمکشان، برای کسی که به سن و سال من رسیده، تناقضی نه چندان دور از ذهن میباشد.. انسانِ خردمندی که از روانِ علمی و خردگرایی آکنده است، نمیتواند بگوید تمامی این رویدادها و اعتقادات کنونی کاملا درست است، اگرچه میتواند با این اندیشه به خود آرامش بخشد که اعتقاداتِ پیشینیان در موردِ سلامتِ انسان یکسره نادرست نبوده و بسیاری از باورها و آداب، انسانی تر و خردمندانه تر از اکنون بوده است
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امیدوارم این ریویو، برایِ شما دوستانِ خردگرا و اهلِ فلسفه، مفید بوده باشه
«پیروز باشید و ایرانی»

[Alok Mishra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won't say that Russell was the most elaborated philosopher of the 20th century. However, he was undoubtedly one of the most elaborated ones... This collection is a basic need for anyone who wants to understand the thoughts, writings and opinions of Bertrand on various subjects.

[Sebastien · Rating 5 out of 5]

A+

Awesome collection of Bertrand Russell's essays, showcasing his incredible diversity of thought and interests. Political philosophy, economics, international diplomacy, science, history of philosophy, morality, religion and spirituality, mathematics, logic, etc etc, all of these are showcased in this collection. I'd only read an essay of his here an essay of his there before, so this was a wonderful deep dive into his works.

Obviously in a collection of essays there will be some that are better than others. Personally I had a bit of a harder time with the section of his essays about mathematics, it was above my head so harder to follow and understand. Also a few weaker essays and pieces that are a bit fluffy light on substance or one-dimensional, but those were absolutely the exception.

But overall most of these essays are very accessible and readable. I love his methodology of thinking, the framework is built upon a deep reliance on logic and critical reasoning techniques. He has a clarity of thought and explanation, and an ability to perceive the layers beneath the layers, the subtleties of the issues, that is really quite extraordinary. Even if one doesn't agree with his final conclusions one can't help but admire his methodology and critical thinking skills. It is instructive and inspiring.

[Vik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most important philosopher of the Twentieth Century

[Steve]

This is another long read, some 720 pages at roughly 550 words per page, yet well worth the investment of time. His Lordship was clearly one very intelligent person whose thoughts evolved with experience and who appeared to write with authentic convictions absent conflict of interest, a liberty facilitated through family wealth. So keen were his abilities that even a collection of unknown, underwhelming Swedish academics—a group that perplexingly receives great universal respect—agreed to confer one of those Nobel Prizes in Literature on this man in 1950. The publishers of this volume presented 81 essays and excerpts from books that offer a spectrum of Lord Russell’s interests, including, autobiography, history, philosophy, mathematics, economics, politics, logic, sociology, education, psychology, and religion, most of which resonated resoundingly well with me. Even with this “basic” collection, my understanding was taxed at times, especially with the excerpts from the Principia Mathematica, written with Alfred North Whitehead between 1910 and 1913.

Lord Russell reminds of the need for empirical investigation, while cautioning on the limits to truth; the scientific method of inquiry has its advantages, however, certainty is ultimately squishy. In practice, always avoid hasty, emotional conclusions, demand facts; or, in even more practical terms, wait until tomorrow to send that opinionated email, in which case it will most likely be deleted. In light of recent historical events in this country, the emphasis on logical thought is an undertaking well worth the effort. Without the threatening conflict between East and West and with the transfiguration of 19th century capitalism into an unsatisfying, though undoubtedly preferable, amalgam with socialism, if Lord Russell were alive today, where would he focus his attention?

Since he devoted some time to criticizing Marx, now is likely a proper moment to add my own commentary. I observed in reading Das Kapital, especially volumes two and three, that Marx did not consider the risks inherent to the owners of capital, principally the risk of ruin, an oversight I previously noted in the commentary on Professor Popper’s The Open Society and Its Enemies. One reason for the surplus of labor concept is to satisfy a return to the owners of capital, which Marx never explicitly mentioned. Within that return is what modern finance practitioners know as the “risk premium.” To Marx, this was zero since owners of capital always profit; he would likely substitute a “greed premium.” Maybe this was because Marx equated owners of capital with landowners. Today, though, we know the owners of capital differently. What percent of small enterprises fail in some rather limited timeframe? Take a drive by your local strip mall and observe how many businesses have come and gone through the years, as one suggestion. Maybe you have a business idea. Go ahead and pursue that dream; let me know how that works out; yes, I’m guessing that everyone now has a tangible appreciation for financial risk.

Moving beyond Marx, if we’re to tame today’s corporate realm, whatever its current -ism, it must be accomplished legislatively, for reasons apparent to anyone who has ever seen a company’s board of directors acting to fulfill its “fiduciary duties.” We the People decide those duties in this country and herein lies the rub, for two reasons. A social movement must promote a workable legislative agenda that effectively resolves the problematic componentry of corporate governance, requiring enlightened perspectives and sincere attempts to optimize outcomes for all, which I suspect are asks too great. Beyond that, though, lies the American political system, intrinsically beholden to the status quo in part through the campaign finance system, another structure in much need of repair.

Another topic worthy of mention involves causality. I wish to read more on Lord Russell’s thoughts regarding the effects of randomness and our muddled sense of this word. We see this daily when society, or its proxy, the media, turns to credentialed persons, or worse, billionaires, for insight into our current concerns. I maintain many deserve far less attention, if any, than we wish to believe. We have, I think, an abysmal ability to parse statistics, time and space, likely owing to genetic priorities, and understandably so, since every species has much concern for the simple and immediate, not so much for the complex and distant future. Yet randomness, I suspect, accounts for a great degree of our destiny. Lord Russell noted the possible consequence to America had Henry VIII not fallen for Anne Boleyn, as just one example. We’re likely quite far from coming to terms with the effects of randomness on our collective progress.

Reading Lord Russell permits my mind to oscillate in many important directions, all the while suggesting critical thinking that ultimately will lead to good decisions. This is most difficult in a world that propagates emotions so easily. I know I have fallen victim too many times already to regrettable decisions and am destined to do so again, despite my best intentions. Maybe if I keep Lord Russell’s words close by, I will do better.

[Liedzeit Liedzeit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book assembles some 80 articles or chapters from books that the editors consider basic writings of Russell. I assume their intention was to present some representative writings of the man regarding a wide range of topics and covering a long period of time. In that they succeeded. We get some autobiographical stuff, some philosophy, pieces on religion, education, history, economics and even some of the fictional writings. The book includes writing from 1903 to 1959. (It was published in 1961.)

We get some basic (in the sense of important) essays like A Free Man’s Worship, Knowledge by Acquaintance and Knowledge by Description, Why I am not A Christian. But missing is for example On Denoting. Instead they included excerpts from Principia Mathematica which, I think, serve little purpose. There is some redundancy, of course (e.g. we get his view on Marx in general and the Feuerbach thesis in particular more than once or twice.) The later writings tend to be especially repetitive and border on the boring. Yes, the next war will be the last one and we better avoid it. The danger of an atomic war is with us again, but I would have preferred less of these.

I said it before and I say it again, it is always a pleasure to read Russell. But I cannot express it better than James Newman who is among the people included to praise him: “His writings combine profundity with wit, trenchant thinking with literary excellence, honesty and clarity with kindliness and wisdom.” (p. 27)

I especially liked the part on history. And the speech he gave when accepting the Nobel Prize for Literature. (Where he tells my favorite anecdote about the Italian prince who on his death-bed said when asked whether he had anything to regret that he missed the opportunity to push both the Emperor and the Pope from the tower, since this would have given him immortal fame.)

I could (and maybe should) quote all the wise and funny things I encountered. But I restrict myself to these:

We are told not to work on Saturdays, and protestants take this to mean that we are not to play on Sundays. (p. 377)

[On the British educational system] Intellect was sacrificed [...] because intellect might produce doubt. Sympathy was sacrificed, because it might interfere with governing ‘inferior’ races or classes. Kindliness was sacrificed for the sake of toughness; imagination for the sake of firmness. (p. 416)

One generation of fearless women could transform the world… (p. 429)

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mathematician who wins the Nobel Prize in literature. His writing is unique. He's the Hemingway of prose; keeps it simple, logical, and with the purpose of education for those not interested in wordy philosophical wind. Easy reading, frequently enlightening, and often very sly and witty. This collection is topically separated, and 800 pages long. Fun for casually picking through like a magazine. I prefer whole, unabridged books, but it's nice to have a giant paperweight/doorstop/boat anchor/missile weapon.

[Seamusin]

Bertrand Russell is perhaps my favourite thinker and writer of all time. Funny, erudite, brief, honest, so very knowledgeable, so very reasonable, and inquisitive about all the right stuff. You can follow him more or less in this book up from the foundations - logic and maths, philosophy, ethics, education and finally (sadly, but nobly) politics. Some people say beware of Russell's writings - especially the History of Western Philosophy - they're full of bias. Well I feel all the richer for seeing further inside his mind.

Don't really know how to rate the book though. While I adore his writing, I don't really adore this specific collection. 'Basic Writings' does not equal 'Important Writings' as I found out. The only pieces I would unequivocally recommend are those in the first two sections: Autobiographical Asides, and The Nobel Prize Winning Man of Letters. A brilliant mix of informal autobiography and history and ramble on philosophy. The rest it seems are perhaps less worthwhile reading than his full books - unless you've already read them all and are a fan-girl...

[David Withun · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Alex Violante · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bertrand Russell es considerado por muchos el filósofo más importante del siglo XX. Siendo matemático, ganó el premio nobel de literatura por sus escritos. Sabiendo esto… ¿Qué tiene de característico Russell para ser merecedor de esos títulos?

Como primer punto, es un polímata por excelencia. Esto, hace unos siglos, quizá no fuera tan particular como ahora; pero en un mundo en el cual la ciencia avanzó tan rápido que fue necesario subdividir todas las áreas de estudio para que las personas pudieran estudiarlas, ser alguien con amplios conocimientos en muchas ramas es verdaderamente algo complejo.

Russell aportó tanto a las matemáticas, como a la educación, la filosofía de la historia, política, psicología, entre otras ciencias. Lo que le permitió tener un panorama mucho más amplio a la hora de analizar las problemáticas que conciernen a nuestra sociedad. Tanto así que en muchos de sus escritos encontramos analizados varios de los problemas que aún (y quizá más que nunca) nos afectan.

Otro punto a resaltar es su escritura; la cual, a pesar de tratar temas complejos, lo hace de una forma sencilla e incluso con algunos tintes de humor, apuntando siempre a una forma pedagógica de transmitir sus conocimientos a aquellos que quizá no están muy familiarizados con esos temas.

Sin dudas recomiendo fuertemente el libro, pero probablemente NO para aquellos que se estén iniciando en filosofía. Ya que si bien Russell trata de ser siempre lo más claro posible, muchas veces toca temas que parten de las ideas de otros autores/filósofos, por lo que es preferible tener cierto conocimiento previo a esta lectura, para así facilitar su comprensión.

[ZaRi]

Aristotle, in spite of his reputation, is full of absurdities. He says that children should be conceived in the Winter, when the wind is in the North, and that if people marry too young the children will be female. He tells us that the blood of females is blacker then that of males; that the pig is the only animal liable to measles; that an elephant suffering from insomnia should have its shoulders rubbed with salt, olive-oil, and warm water; that women have fewer teeth than men, and so on. Nevertheless, he is considered by the great majority of philosophers a paragon of wisdom.

[Erik Hoel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many of the sections were not as long as I would have liked, but as an lifelong overview of the author's work/thought, in the author's own words, it is perfect.

[Lewis Younie · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is wit, passion and a thoughtfulness throughout all the writings of Bertrand Russell contained within this collection of work. His style is engaging and provocative, intentionally so, as he seeks to challenge his readers to re-examine treasured beliefs and methods of living. He, however, also constantly demonstrates accompanying keenness to communicate his position as clearly as possible; indeed, he outlines in an early essay on his writing style his determination to always state his position in as few and simple words as possible. This is evident throughout – however, despite Russell’s best efforts, his essays summarising his works as a logician remained impenetrable. I fear however this was a fault of my own understanding, and cannot be blamed on the author.

As a primer for the beliefs, theories, and musings of one of the great thinkers of the 20th century, this book is invaluable. The essays, articles, and book excerpts range across a dizzying array of subjects which attracted Russell’s interests, and, while not claiming expertise in some subjects, he still stimulates the mind and encourages a longing in the reader for greater understanding, a feeling obviously contained within Russell. On subjects upon which he does have expertise, however, his writing reaches incredible heights; he disseminates information, challenges and then deconstructs positions and establishes his own thoughts with mastery I have encountered elsewhere rarely. As if that wasn’t enough, he does all this while still maintaining a wit and elegant humour other writers often lack.

Russell’s most stirring and, to my mind, most interesting pieces are those in which he delivers his most strident criticisms. The four concepts which he devotes entire essays to addressing, and indeed are critiqued in several other pieces, stand testament to his philosophical and moral opposition to an absence of introspection, skepticism and critical thought. Communism, religion, undue desire for wealth and a predisposition towards violence stand as pillars of received and unchallenged thought which, to Russell’s mind, are root causes in much of the unhappiness experienced by humans, and can be readily alleviated.

From his many, many addresses contained within these collected writings against these four, and other like them, I postulate that Russell’s philosophy seem grounded in self-reinforcing concepts of knowledge and empathy, the solution to, in Russell’s eyes, humanities suffering. He values knowledge for its illumination of our own potential and the fulfilled lives we can lead but also because it allows us to understand other people, and live in harmony with them. Empathy as being a result of knowledge is referred to constantly in his essays on the study of history as he believes, rightly, that it is necessary to understanding people’s situations, and why their lives have developed in the way they have. Knowledge thus enables this understanding, and leads to empathy. This concept is evident in the reverse as well – Russell demonstrates throughout that from others we gain key knowledge and, vitally, critique of our own beliefs and the spur to conduct internal criticism, while also providing the opportunity for others to do the same.

From these two concepts and their interaction come the conditions of living which Russell, in my understanding of his work (which is admittedly limited to this, a collection of his ‘basic writings’), believes to be best. Lives which are consumed with peaceable and social interaction with a devotion to creativity and the pursuit of knowledge, and a healthy degree of scepticism, both of one’s own beliefs and those of others.

[Priyanka Suresh · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book! Would recommend exploring the book from the index - find a topic of your interest, read that essay and repeat. The prose is straightforward, articulate and beautiful.

Backstory - I read an essay called "Knowledge and wisdom" by Russell when I was in school, loved it so much I learned it word for word. Fast forward to now, wanted to explore his other essays and I am not disappointed. Would recommend to anyone at any age with any interest. 800 pages of pure fun with thought-provoking, readable, modern philosophy essays. Couldn't get enough.

[Carlos Jaramillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sociologia, Etica, ciencia, politica, religion, economia, historia...... este libro tiene una cantindad inigualable de temas. esta coleccion de ensyos de Russell nos mustra el gran intelecto que tenia este hombre en una cantidad gigante de temas diversos. hay algunos ensayos que son muy interesantes, asimismo como temas que pueden hacerte dormir. pero la leccion que hay de este libro es la siguiente: una manera de pensar clara y coherente en una cantidad de temas diversos es posible.
no puedo estreas cuanta admiracion siento por este hombre, pacifista y logico ante todo, un historiador honesto. personas asi son ocacionales en la historia de la humanidad.

[E. G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introduction by John G. Slater
Preface by Bertrand Russell
Introduction by the Editors
Epigrammatic Insights from the pen of Russell
Chronological List of Russell's Principle Works
Chronology of the Life of Bertrand Russell
Acknowledgements
Some Thoughts about Bertrand Russell

Autobiographical Asides
--My Religious Reminiscences
--My Mental Development
--Adaptation: An Autobiographical Epitome
--Why I Took to Philosophy

The Nobel Prize Winning Man of Letters (Essayist and Short Story Writer)
--How I Write
--A Free Man's Worship
--An Outline of Intellectual Rubbish
--The Metaphysician's Nightmare: Retro Me Satanas

The Philosopher of Language
--Language
--Sentences, Syntax, and Parts of Speech
--The Uses of Language
--The Cult of 'Common Usage'

The Logician and Philosopher of Mathematics
--Symbolic Logic
--On Induction
--Preface to Principia Mathematica
--Introduction to Principia Mathematica
--Summary of Part III, Principia Mathematica
--Summary of Part IV, Principia Mathematica
--Summary of Part V, Principia Mathematica
--Summary of Part VI, Principia Mathematica
--Introduction to the Second Edition, Principia Mathematica
--Mathematics and Logic
--The Validity of Inference
--Dewey's New Logic
--John Dewey

The Epistemologist
--Knowledge by Acquaintance and Knowledge by Description
--Theory of Knowledge
--Epistemological Premisses

The Metaphysician
--Materialism, Past and Present
--Language and Metaphysics
--The Retreat from Pythagoras

The Historian of Philosophy
--Philosophy in the Twentieth Century
--Aristotle's Logic
--St Thomas Aquinas
--Currents of Thought in the Nineteenth Century
--The Philosophy of Logical Analysis

The Psychologist
--Psychological and Physical Causal Laws
--Truth and Falsehood
--Knowledge Behaviouristically Considered

The Moral Philosopher
--Styles in Ethics
--The Place of Sex Among Human Values
--Individual and Social Ethics
--'What I Believe'
--The Expanding Mental Universe

The Philosopher of Education
--Education
--The Aims of Education
--Emotion and Discipline
--The Functions of a Teacher

The Philosopher of Politics
--The Reconciliation of Individuality and Citizenship
--Philosophy and Politics
--Politically Important Desires
--Why I am not a Communist

The Philosopher in the Field of Economics
--Property
--Dialectical Materialism
--The Theory of Surplus Value

The Philosopher of History
--On History
--The Materialistic Theory of History
--History as an Art

The Philosopher of Culture: East and West
--Chinese and Western Civilization Contrasted
--Eastern and Western Ideals of Happiness

The Philosopher of Religion
--The Essence of Religion
--What is an Agnostic?
--Why I am not a Christian
--Can Religion Cure our Troubles?

The Philosopher and Expositor of Science
--Physics and Neutral Monism
--Science and Education
--Limitations of Scientific Method
--The New Physics and Relativity
--Science and Values
--Non-Demonstrative Inference

The Analyst of International Affairs
--The Taming of Power
--If We are to Survive this Dark Time---
--What Would Help Mankind Most?
--Current Perplexities
--World Government
--The Next Half-Century
--Life Without Fear
--Science and Human Life
--Open Letter to Eisenhower and Khrushchev
--Man's Peril
--Methods of Settling Disputes in the Nuclear Age

Index

[Ahmad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I owe innumerable happy hours to reading of this book by Russell, something which I can’t say of any other contemporary scientific writer. Although, he’s best known to the general public for his views on religion, a topic which engaged his attention from boyhood onward, he nevertheless is without a question one of the most productive and most brilliant thinkers of our age.

[John Engelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered Bertrand Russell during the War in Vietnam. I liked his opposition to the War in Vietnam and to the Cold War in general, as well as his support for democratic socialism. I disliked his criticism of Christianity and his support for what had come to be called “the sexual revolution.” When some of my comrades in the anti war movement became attracted to Marxism I appreciated Russell’s criticism of Marxism. I thought Marxism was irrelevant to American politics and caused anti war activists to behave in ways that angered voters into voting for hawks who prolonged the war effort in Vietnam.

I bought my copy of "The Basic Writings of Bertrand Russell" back then. I read about one third of it. Recently I read the whole thing.

I had hoped that "The Basic Writings of Bertrand Russell" would be as interesting as "The Practice and Theory of Bolshevism" and "A History of Western Philosophy." I was mildly disappointed. In his writing about logic he did not discuss logical fallacies. In his writings about education he did not discuss what I consider to be the most important goal of education. In his writings about Marxism he did not acknowledge what I consider to be Karl Marx’s two valid insights.

I cannot pretend to understand the excerpts from "Principia Mathematica." I did wonder what the point was. There is much I do not understand about mathematics. Nevertheless mathematics proves its usefulness and validity in the experimental sciences. These prove their usefulness and validity in making new medical cures possible and doing the same with new inventions.

My interest in logic is pretty much restricted to logical fallacies. I enjoy political arguments, and I like to point out the logical fallacies in the arguments of my opponents on the internet (where I do not need to worry about losing friends). Internet forums offer a rich field of logical fallacies. There is the ubiquitous ad hominem fallacy, when someone who cannot refute my argument slanders my character. There is the straw man fallacy when someone who cannot refute my argument tries to distort it. There is the guilt by association fallacy, when someone likens my argument to something Adolf Hitler or Vladimir Lenin would have agreed with. And so on and so on.

When Russell discussed education he wrote that teachers should not teach dogmas, but rather the attitude that truth can be approximated, but that one should be willing to change one’s opinions when new evidence discredits them.

This is all very nice. I think it is even more important for students to learn trades or professions. When I graduated from college, prospective employers did not care about my knowledge of history, literature, or philosophy. They wanted to know how I could help them make more money.

Most of what Karl Marx wrote is not true. His most glaring error was to assume that loyalties of class are stronger than loyalties of race, nation, and ethnicity. For most people most of the time the opposite is true. This is particularly true in the United States, where the white working class is a Republican constituency.

Marx did have two valid insights. First, the natural tendency of capitalism is to accumulate wealth and income at the top. Second, partly as a result of this, capitalism is doomed to experience increasingly destructive economic down turns.

This did happen, and eventually caused the Great Depression. President Roosevelt’s New Deal countered these tendencies by taxing the rich heavily, and spreading the wealth around. In addition, employers were forced to pay their more expendable employees more generously than the law of supply and demand required them to with minimum wage laws and strong labor unions. These reforms created more affluent consumers. These bought more, encouraging employers to hire more people to make and sell what was being purchased.

Eventually the rich benefited too. In a "Wall Street Journal" news story printed in November 6, 2012 the Journal wrote, “Since 1900, the Dow has averaged a 7.8% annual gain under Democratic presidents, compared with a 3% annual gain under Republicans.”

Beginning with the administration of Ronald Reagan, Republicans have scaled back the reforms of the New Deal. As a result, wealth and income are again concentrating at the top. Recessions have become longer and deeper.

The sexual revolution Russell advocated has led to dramatic increases in divorce and illegitimacy, and corresponding evidence that children raised by their biological parents living together in matrimony tend to do much better in life than children raised in other situations. I discuss this in my review of Marriage and Morals.

Russell thinks male sexuality and female sexuality are identical. Actually, most men enjoy casual sex and sexual variety; most women do not. Human nature is ignorant of birth control, abortion, and antibiotics. It has evolved in response to pregnancy and venereal disease. A man who has children by many women and who supports none of them can expect some to survive. A woman who has children by many men cannot expect the same results. Promiscuity has often been a successful reproductive strategy for men. It has not been for women.

I cannot prove the Nicene Creed. I can point to the large number of schools and universities founded by Christians for Christian purposes. One of these is Russell’s alma mater, Cambridge University. I can also mention the large number of Christian charities, like the one that helps homeless people, and where I do volunteer work.

I do think that "The Basic Writings of Bertrand Russell" is worth reading in its entirety. One should read it with the gentle skepticism Russell recommended. He did not want to create followers who believed everything he wrote, and who were willing to kill and die for his philosophy, the way millions of Marxists killed and died for Marxism during the twentieth century.

[Augusto Barros · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read it all, it's more like a good reference and quotes source when you are looking for a smart and reasonable way of looking into our biggest issues. Bertrand Russell was certainly one of the greatest minds of the last century.

[Jihad Lahham · Rating 5 out of 5]

while i did not get into "logic" or "principia mathematica", i loved everything in this book. it's a big book and a heavy read but it's broken down in sections which makes it easier to read over a long period of time.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good old common sense....one of the most important thinkers of the 20th century...

[Volkan · Rating 5 out of 5]

favorite section of the book was "an outline of intellectual rubbish".

[Brian Pinnock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth the read. A controversial but hugely intelligent figure.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Russell, as a free thinker revolutionized modern philosophy. Using logic and reason rather than faith and dogma, in all his arguments he strips away the idea of faith.

[Marko Zbodulja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing collection of essays and nice introduction to the work of Bertrand Russell, one of my greatest heroes.

[Dozy Pilchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great anthology, except my edition has no index which makes it less useful than it would otherwise be for research.

[Jackson Cyril · Rating 5 out of 5]

If for no other reason, one should read Russell to learn how to write with immense wit and enjoyment without abandoning depth of thought: a must-read for all aspiring writers.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading some of Russell's essays. He wrote in an understandable language though his thinking is at a great depth of reasoning.

[eesenor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a useful collection of Russell's influential pieces on a variety of topics.

[Sarah Hyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

An impressive compendium of short essays from one of my favourite thinkers from the 20th century.