The Problems of Philosophy - Chapter 1

(Originally written September 16, 2005 in Book 2)

The Problems of Philosophy
Bertrand Russell
1912

Chapter 1 - Appearance and Reality

"Is there any knowledge in the world which is so certain that no reasonable man could doubt it?" (Russell, 7). This is a difficult question that philosophy takes on.

Knowledge from our immediate experiences is often contradictory and wrong.

There is a distinction between appearance and reality.

Appearance is what we see and it is constantly changing in accordance to our point of view. Reality is known through inferences based on appearance. Reality is not known to us, but is an inference of what is immediately known.

Sense data are things that are immediately known to us, i.e. color, sounds, smells and textures.

Sensation is the immediate awareness of sense data.

Physical objects are the objects in reality.

The collection of all physical objects is matter.

There is an opinion that states, "whatever can be thought of is an idea in the mind of the person thinking of it; therefore nothing can be thought of except ideas in minds; therefore, anything else is inconceivable and what is inconceivable cannot exist"

Is there a table in reality? Of course there is because a man created it. You cannot create a mere appearance; it must be real. Reality is something created and God created the world therefore it is a reality. (Personal Opinion)