Bertrand Russell Life and Philosophy
English Philosopher, Logician, Mathematician and Social Reformist
May 12, 2009
Bertrand Russell was a famous philosopher credited for laying the foundation of modern logic and for his commitment to nuclear disarmament. In 1950, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. His book History of Western Philosophy remains a classic of its kind.
Bertrand Russell Brief Biography
Bertrand Arthur William Russell was born on May 18, 1872 in Wales although he spent most of his life mainly in England. He was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian and a social reformist.
He is considered one of the founders of analytic philosophy along with his protégé Wittgenstein and elder Gottlob Frege. In the early 1900, Russell led what is referred to as the "revolt against idealism." His works had strong influence on logic, mathematics, analytic philosophy and linguistics.
An activist for peace, he was imprisoned during World War I for his pacifist activism, in which he campaigned against Hitler's nuclear armament. He also criticized the US for Vietnam War involvement and the Soviet for totalitarianism.
Bertrand Russell's Philosophy
Russell laid the foundation of modern logic. The scope of Russell's work spans all the traditional areas of philosophy. He demonstrated that mathematics could be explained by the rules of formal logic.
Later, as his thought continued to change and develop, he applied this earlier technique to other concepts.
Russell's Theory of Definite Descriptions
Concerned with the semantic problems of meaning and reference, Russell solved a long-standing philosophical conundrum with his famous "theory of definite descriptions" which is generated out of considering whether to call a sentence true or false when it fails to refer.
In this theory, Russell showed how it is possible to speak meaningfully of things that do not exist, which has become a standard tool of logical analysis.
The "theory of definite descriptions" is also regarded as essential to all those involved in the philosophy of language, that is, those whose work is predicated on theories of meaning that seek to essentially connect the meaning of words with items. This means that if it is the underlying basis of meaning, assertions about nonexistents are problematic without Russell's analysis.
Russell Legacy
Bertrand Russell wrote numerous books on subjects including mathematical logic, social issues and theory of knowledge. Notable and famous among his books that attempts to ground mathematics on logic is Principia Mathematica, he co-authored with Alfred North Whitehead.
He is highly remembered within philosophy and mathematics for his work in logical analysis and, in later life, in society, as a champion for humanitarian ideals and humanist social philosophy. He died in Wales on February 2, 1970.
Major Books by Bertrand Russell
- Principia Mathematica, co-author, A.N. Whitehead, 3 volumes: 1910, 1912, 1913
- The Problems of Philosophy, 1912
- A History of Western Philosophy, 1943
- Logic and Knowledge, 1956
Sources:
- McGovern, Una, Editor. Biographical Dictionary. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers, 2002.
- Stokes, Philip. Philosophy, the Great Thinkers. Capella, 2007.
- Stangroom, Dr. Jeremy, Philosophy. Sydney: ABC Books, 2001.
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