Well naturally this essay was of utmost interest to me. First of all because I love philosophy and second because Bertand Russell is one of the best modern/post modernist. I have read several other essays by him, and they are all very interesting.
My favorite statement of the this essay is, "Philosophy, like all other studies, aims primarily at knowledge. The knowledge it aims at is the kind of knowledge that gives unity..." I love this statement because as a Philosopher that is our whole objective and consequently what my whole life has come to be about. I want unity and consistancy in all the different areas of my life and I search and wonder through things philosophically to get to a place where things just gel together. Everyone whether they accept it or not is a philosopher. We have to critically examine what we believe and why in every area of our lives. So, the value of philosophy is extraordinarily high.
While philosophy may not establish the answers themselves, it gives a field in which answers can be discovered through. And I completely agree with Russell when he says that philosophy is to be studied for the questions' sake not the answers. I just love this essay!
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Megan, I believe that your reflection of the essay was beautiful and so true. We need to ask questions and I believe that IWU has helped me become a greater philosopher. When I came to visit the college, I sat in on a Philosphy class. By the middle of the class period, I wanted to shoot myself. I did, however take that particular class as a student at IWU, and with the same professor. Amazing. No, we do not have all of the answers, but asking questions has a way, I believe of developing our faith. Neat stuff. Thanks for sharing.
Megan,
I really did appreciate your thoughts on the essay, and I will continue to try to open my mind to that method of thought. I hope my essay did not offend you, that was not my intention. And I was not trying to generalize, although it may seem that way, I was strictly referring to the essay and the class I took. Maybe you could help me understand what he had to say!!!
I nodded my head in annoyance at the beginning of this essay when Russell brought up the point that philosophy produces zero answers...what's the point? But as I continued reading, I realized that I do this often. I participate in the kind of philosophizing that expands my knowledge simply by contemtplating those things which produce incomplete answers. This is my favorite sentence in the essay: "Through the infinity of the universe the mind which contemplates it achieves some share in infinity." I feel like this is Biblical. In Ecclesiastes it says that God has placed eternity in the hearts of men. In our search for answers, we expand who we are as people on earth as well as who we are as people in God's Kingdom. I loved this essay.
Bertrand is definitely passionate about Philosophy and presents his essay well, as did Meg in her reflection.
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