Russell on Metaphysics brings together for the first time a comprehensive selection of Russell's writings on metaphysics in one volume. Russell's major and lasting contribution to metaphysics has been hugely influential and his insights have led to the establishment of analytic philosophy as a dominant stream in philosophy. Stephen Mumford chronicles the metaphysical nature of these insights through accessible introductions to the texts, setting them in context and understanding their continued importance. Russell on Metaphysics is both a valuable introduction to Bertrand Russell as a metaphysician, and an introduction to analytic philosophy and its history.
Author(s): Bertrand Russell, Stephen Mumford
Series: Russell on...
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2003
Language: English
Pages: 265
Book Cover......Page 1
Title......Page 4
Contents......Page 5
Acknowledgements......Page 8
Introduction......Page 10
Idealism......Page 20
Greek exercises......Page 22
On the distinction between the psychological and metaphysical points of view......Page 30
The free-will problem from an idealist standpoint......Page 34
The dialectic of the sciences......Page 46
Seems, madam? Nay, it is......Page 61
Ontology (I)......Page 70
The principles of mathematics......Page 72
The existential import of propositions......Page 86
Three letters to Meinong......Page 90
The basis of realism......Page 94
Analytic realism......Page 100
The philosophy of logical atomism......Page 106
Universals......Page 130
On the relations of universals and particulars......Page 132
The problem of universals......Page 152
Causality and laws......Page 170
On the notion of cause......Page 172
Causal laws in physics......Page 192
Physics and metaphysics......Page 200
Causal laws......Page 208
Ontology (II)......Page 218
Vagueness......Page 220
Physics and neutral monism......Page 230
Language and metaphysics......Page 240
The principle of individuation......Page 246
Bibliography......Page 257
Index......Page 260
