Deck 11: Bertrand Russell the Value of Philosophy

Question 1

According to Russell, "If the study of philosophy has any value at all for others than students of philosophy, it must be only __________, through its effects upon the lives of those who study it. It is in these effects, therefore, if anywhere, that the value of philosophy must be primarily sought."

A) superficial
B) metaphysical
C) indirectly
D) spiritual

Answer 1

C

Question 2

According to Russell, "The _________man, as this word is often used, is one who recognizes only material needs, who realizes that men must have food for the body, but is oblivious of the necessity of providing food for the mind."

A) practical
B) religious
C) idealistic
D) anarchistic

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Russell says, "It is exclusively among the ___________________ that the value of philosophy is to be found; and only those who are not indifferent to these goods can be persuaded that the study of philosophy is not a waste of time."

A) goods of the body
B) goods of the mind
C) idols of the marketplace
D) idols of religion

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Russell says, "the fact that, as soon as definite knowledge concerning any subject becomes possible, this subject ceases to be called __________, and becomes a separate ________."

A) metaphysics; belief
B) conjectures; theory
C) fallacious; certainty
D) philosophy; science

Question 5

Russell says, "The value of philosophy is, in fact, to be sought largely in its very ___________. The man who has no tincture of philosophy goes through life imprisoned in the prejudices derived from common sense, from the habitual beliefs of his age or his nation, and from convictions which have grown up in his mind without the co-operation or consent of his deliberate reason."

A) uncertainty
B) certainty
C) existence
D) reputation

Question 6

According to Russell, "_________________________ does not, in its widest survey, divide the universe into two hostile camps-friends and foes, helpful and hostile, good and bad-it views the whole impartially."

A) Physical existence
B) Philosophic contemplation
C) Spiritual reflection
D) Isomorphic demonstration

Question 7

Russell says, "All acquisition of knowledge is an enlargement of the ________, but this enlargement is best attained when it is not directly sought. It is obtained when the desire for knowledge is alone operative, by a study which does not wish in advance that its objects should have this or that character."

A) Body
B) Universe
C) Self
D) Unknown

Question 8

According to Russell, "Hence also the ______________ will value more the abstract and universal knowledge into which the accidents of private history do not enter, than the knowledge brought by the senses, and dependent, as such knowledge must be, upon an exclusive and personal point of view and a body whose sense-organs distort as much as they reveal."

A) free intellect
B) public response
C) restricted mind
D) huddled masses

Question 9

Russell says, "Philosophy is to be studied, not for the sake of any definite answers to its questions, since no definite answers can, as a rule, be known to be true, but rather for the sake of ..."

A) humanity.
B) our sanity.
C) future generations.
D) the questions themselves.

Question 10

According to Russell, "If the study of philosophy has any value at all for others than students of philosophy, it must be only indirectly, through its effects upon the lives of those who study it. It is in these effects, therefore, if anywhere, that the value of philosophy must be primarily sought."

Question 11

According to Russell, "The idealistic man, as this word is often used, is one who recognizes only material needs, who realizes that men must have food for the body, but is oblivious of the necessity of providing food for the mind."

Question 12

Russell says, "It is exclusively among the idols of the marketplace that the value of philosophy is to be found; and only those who are not indifferent to these goods can be persuaded that the study of philosophy is not a waste of time."

Question 13

Russell says, "the fact that, as soon as definite knowledge concerning any subject becomes possible, this subject ceases to be called philosophy, and becomes a separate science."

Question 14

Russell says, "The value of philosophy is, in fact, to be sought largely in its very uncertainty. The man who has no tincture of philosophy goes through life imprisoned in the prejudices derived from common sense, from the habitual beliefs of his age or his nation, and from convictions which have grown up in his mind without the co-operation or consent of his deliberate reason."

Question 15

According to Russell, "Philosophic contemplation does not, in its widest survey, divide the universe into two hostile camps-friends and foes, helpful and hostile, good and bad-it views the whole impartially."

Question 16

Russell says, "All acquisition of knowledge is an enlargement of the Self, but this enlargement is best attained when it is not directly sought. It is obtained when the desire for knowledge is alone operative, by a study which does not wish in advance that its objects should have this or that character."

Question 17

According to Russell, "Hence also the restricted mind will value more the abstract and universal knowledge into which the accidents of private history do not enter, than the knowledge brought by the senses, and dependent, as such knowledge must be, upon an exclusive and personal point of view and a body whose sense-organs distort as much as they reveal."

Question 18

Russell says, "Philosophy is to be studied, not for the sake of any definite answers to its questions, since no definite answers can, as a rule, be known to be true, but rather for the sake of the questions themselves."

Question 19

Explain Russell's meaning when he says, "If the study of philosophy has any value at all for others than students of philosophy, it must be only indirectly, through its effects upon the lives of those who study it. It is in these effects, therefore, if anywhere, that the value of philosophy must be primarily sought." Do you agree with Russell?

Question 20

According to Russell, "The practical man, as this word is often used, is one who recognizes only material needs, who realizes that men must have food for the body, but is oblivious of the necessity of providing food for the mind." Do you agree with Russell? Explain your answer.

Question 21

Russell says, "It is exclusively among the goods of the mind that the value of philosophy is to be found; and only those who are not indifferent to these goods can be persuaded that the study of philosophy is not a waste of time." Do you agree with Russell? Explain your answer.

Question 22

Russell says, "the fact that, as soon as definite knowledge concerning any subject becomes possible, this subject ceases to be called philosophy, and becomes a separate science." What examples does Russell give in support of this claim? Can you think of other examples?

Question 23

Russell says, "The value of philosophy is, in fact, to be sought largely in its very uncertainty. The man who has no tincture of philosophy goes through life imprisoned in the prejudices derived from common sense, from the habitual beliefs of his age or his nation, and from convictions which have grown up in his mind without the co-operation or consent of his deliberate reason." Why does Russell use the term "uncertainty" here? Do you agree with Russell? Explain your answer.

Question 24

What does Russell mean when he says, "Philosophic contemplation does not, in its widest survey, divide the universe into two hostile camps-friends and foes, helpful and hostile, good and bad-it views the whole impartially."

Question 25

Explain Russell's meaning when he says, "All acquisition of knowledge is an enlargement of the Self, but this enlargement is best attained when it is not directly sought. It is obtained when the desire for knowledge is alone operative, by a study which does not wish in advance that its objects should have this or that character."

Question 26

According to Russell, "Hence also the free intellect will value more the abstract and universal knowledge into which the accidents of private history do not enter, than the knowledge brought by the senses, and dependent, as such knowledge must be, upon an exclusive and personal point of view and a body whose sense-organs distort as much as they reveal." Do you agree with Russell? Explain your answer.

Question 27

Russell says, "Philosophy is to be studied, not for the sake of any definite answers to its questions, since no definite answers can, as a rule, be known to be true, but rather for the sake of the questions themselves." Do you agree with Russell? Explain your answer.