The Problems Of Philosophy Quotes

“The value of philosophy is, in fact, to be sought largely in its very uncertainty.”
― Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy

“To such a man [without philosophy] the world tends to become definite, finite, and obvious; common objects rouse no questions, and unfamiliar possibilities are contemptuously rejected.”
― Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy

“Philosophy, though unable to tell us with certainty what is the true answer to the doubts which it raises, is able to suggest many possibilities which enlarge our thoughts and free them from the tyranny of custom. Thus, while diminishing our feeling of certainty as to what things are, it greatly increases our knowledge as to what they may be; it removes the somewhat arrogant dogmatism of those who have never traveled into the region of liberating doubt, and it keeps alive our sense of wonder by showing familiar things in an unfamiliar aspect.”
― Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy

“...Contemplation enlarges not only the objects of our thoughts, but also the objects of our actions and our affections: it makes us citizens of the universe, not only of one walled city at war will all the rest. In this citizenship of the universe consists man's true freedom, and his liberation from the thraldom of narrow hopes and fears.”
― Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy

“...Whoever wishes to become a philosopher must learn not to be frightened by absurdities.”
― Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy

“The 'practical' man... is one who recognizes only material needs, who realizes that men must have food for the body, but is oblivious of the necessity of providing food for the mind.”
― Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy

“Philosophy, like all other studies, aims primarily at knowledge. The knowledge it aims at is the kind of knowledge which gives unity and system to the body of the sciences, and the kind which results from a critical examination of the grounds of our convictions, prejudices, and beliefs.”
― Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy

“...As soon as the definite knowledge concerning any subject becomes possible, this subject ceases to be called philosophy, and becomes a separate science.”
― Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy

“But it would seem that, whether answers be otherwise discoverable or not, the answers suggested by philosophy are none of them demonstrably true. Yet, however slight may be the hope of discovering an answer, it is part of the business of philosophy to continue the consideration of such questions, to make us aware of their importance, to examine all the approaches to them, and to keep alive that speculative interest in the universe which is apt to be killed by confining ourselves to definitely ascertainable knowledge.”
― Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy

“In such a life [of private interests] there is something feverish and confined, in comparison with which the philosophic life is calm and free.”
― Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy

“Unless we can so enlarge our interests as to include the whole outer world, we remain like a garrison in the beleaguered fortress, knowing that the enemy prevents escape and that ultimate surrender is inevitable.”
― Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy

“Philosophic contemplation does not, in its widest survey, divide the universe into two hostile camps -- friends and foes, helpful and hostile, good and bad -- it views the whole impartially.”
― Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy

“The free intellect will see as God might see, without a here and now, without hopes and fears, without the trammels of customary beliefs and traditional prejudices, calmly, dispassionately, in the sole and exclusive desire of knowledge -- knowledge as impersonal, as purely contemplative, as it is possible for man to attain.”
― Bertrand Russell, The Problems of Philosophy

“...Whoever wishes to become a philosopher must learn not to be frightened by absurdities.”
― Betrand Russell

“The 'practical' man... is one who recognizes only material needs, who realizes that men must have food for the body, but is oblivious of the necessity of providing food for the mind.”
― Betrand Russell

“Philosophy, like all other studies, aims primarily at knowledge. The knowledge it aims at is the kind of knowledge which gives unity and system to the body of the sciences, and the kind which results from a critical examination of the grounds of our convictions, prejudices, and beliefs.”
― Betrand Russell

“...As soon as the definite knowledge concerning any subject becomes possible, this subject ceases to be called philosophy, and becomes a separate science.”
― Betrand Russell

“But it would seem that, whether answers be otherwise discoverable or not, the answers suggested by philosophy are none of them demonstrably true. Yet, however slight may be the hope of discovering an answer, it is part of the business of philosophy to continue the consideration of such questions, to make us aware of their importance, to examine all the approaches to them, and to keep alive that speculative interest in the universe which is apt to be killed by confining ourselves to definitely ascertainable knowledge.”
― Betrand Russell