(Originally written September 23, 2005 in Book 2)
The Problems of Philosophy
Bertrand Russell
1912
Chapter 15 - The Value of Philosophy
It is important to realize that even if all hunger and disease were disposed of, much work would still be needed to be done to produce a valuable society
The interesting fact of philosophy is, when a definite knowledge of that which something is being studied in philosophy has been found it ceases to be philosophy. Astronomy and psychology are prime examples of this process.
Philosophy cannot prove dogmatic beliefs.
The value of philosophy is to free us from the prejudices of common sense, from habitual beliefs of one's time or nation, and from convictions to which we have been subjected to from birth and have accepted without any scrutiny.
"It [Philosophy] removes the somewhat arrogant dogmatism of those who have never traveled into the region of liberating doubt" (Russell, 157).
Without philosophy we are constantly haunted by an insistence of desire and a powerless sense of will. Without philosophy we are trapped.
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