Our Knowledge of the External World as a Field for Scientific Method in Philosophy

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Gutenberg ID

37090

Title

Our Knowledge of the External World as a Field for Scientific Method in Philosophy

Language

en

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Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Bertrand Russell challenges traditional philosophy by advocating for a scientific, logical-analytic method. This work explores the relationship between sense data and the physical world, arguing that space, time, and matter are logical constructions rather than independent realities. Russell aims to replace vague metaphysical systems with precise, verifiable results derived from mathematics and logic, offering a new realism grounded in empirical observation.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Our Knowledge of the External World as a Field for Scientific Method in Philosophy*, Bertrand Russell critiques traditional philosophical systems for relying on *a priori* reasoning and authority rather than adapting to the scientific age. He proposes 'logical atomism,' a method that replaces untested generalities with detailed, verifiable results derived from rigorous logic and mathematics. Russell argues that philosophy must become a science independent of a philosopher's personal temperament, utilizing the precise methods of mathematics to understand reality. The central problem addressed is the relationship between crude sense data and the physical concepts of space, time, and matter. Russell contends that these physical concepts are not inferred from experience but are logical constructions built from it. He utilizes the work of mathematician Georg Cantor to resolve historical paradoxes regarding infinity, demonstrating that space and time can be defined as classes of sense-data. This approach dissolves insoluble metaphysical problems, such as those posed by Zeno's paradoxes, by showing that apparent contradictions often stem from a lack of mathematical precision. Russell distinguishes his 'logical atomism' from the 'classical tradition,' which he views as a decaying force failing to adapt to modern needs, and 'evolutionism,' which he finds too bold in its innovations without sufficient logical grounding. He illustrates his method by examining the nature of relations, such as simultaneity and equality, showing how they can be defined through logical constructions rather than assumed common properties. By defining points and instants as classes of sensible qualities, Russell avoids the paradoxes that plagued earlier thinkers who believed infinite numbers were self-contradictory. The text emphasizes that while pure logic is an abstract theory, its application to actual space and time reveals that continuity is not destroyed by resolving the world into points and instants. Russell acknowledges that understanding these mathematical doctrines requires a shift in imagination to accept that the continuity of the world of sense is analogous to mathematical continuity. Ultimately, the work aims to show how logical analysis can solve all that is soluble in the age-old controversies between realists and idealists, providing a new light on the reality of the physical world.

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Categories

• Psychology
• Philosophy