Sceptical Essays (Routledge Classics) [Paperback]

To convey the attitude expressed in this this collection of essays, one can hardly do so more forcefully than Russell in his own introductory remarks:

"I wish to propose for the reader's favourable consideration a doctrine which may, I fear, appear wildly paradoxical and subversive. The doctrine in question is this: that it is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for believing it true, I must, of course, admit that if such a belief became common it would completely transform our social life and political system; since both are at present faultless, this must weigh against it."

In this collection of essays Russell attempts to define and employ a moderate form scepticism that he believes to be compatible with a rational and scientific outlook. At root, he argues that we should acknowledge that even our best confirmed beliefs are likely to need revision, that we should not disregard expert opinion, and that, where there is no consensus of opinion among the experts, we (the non-experts) should suspend our judgment. Although the content of the essays in the collection varies considerably, this rationally sceptical outlook, together with Russell's well known commitment to freedom of belief and private action, provides a consistent thread througout.

Like some other collections of Russell's essays, this volume contains some that are quite dated ("Machines and Emotions", "Eastern and Western Ideals of Happiness", and "Philosophy in the Twentieth Century"). Nevertheless, the core is sound. In the handful of essays in which Russell explicitly outlines his sceptical approach to politics, religion, ethics and education ("On the Value of Scepticism", "The Harm the Good Men Do", "Free Thought and Official Propaganda", "Freedom in Society", and "Freedom Versus Authority in Education") we find timeless and compelling arguments for the application of the rational sceptical attitude.

Of this particular edition I have two criticisms. The first is a reasonably high rate of typographical errors. I have read several other Routledge Classics and I haven't noticed this to be a problem in the past. The second is a fairly unsympathetic introductory essay by John Gray, which seems to be more concerned with highlighting Russell's inconsistencies and criticising his rationalist programme than with introducing the subject matter of the volume.

But these are minor complaints. Overall this is a good, solid collection of essays by a great writer, noted philosopher, and perceptive social commentator.

Russell writes accessibly and often wittily. As philosophy goes, he is probably the most readable of all. This volume is a collection of fairly short essays covering limited remits and can easily be bitten off and digested by the lay reader. It includes some important insights, but is not as education-dense as his magisterial History of Western Philosophy. It is interesting to consider that he wrote at a time when the profession of atheism was still technically illegal under UK law.

Russell is not merely philosophising but committing advocacy - of scepticism and of rationalism. Of particular interest are his sceptical principles, which he advocates that all men adopt, and his consideration of Bentham's consequentialism, all delivered with the customary wit. The man was a national and global treasure and probably the first professional humanist and chief national atheist, a position now occupied by Richard Dawkins.

Well worth reading.

In these brilliant essays, B. Russell unmasks idealism, `good' men (`The Harm that good men do'), behaviorism and `sinister interests' (power and wealth). He exposes Marx's ambiguities and Bentham's subversion and clarifies his vision on freedom, free thought, education, politics, science and the place of mankind in the universe.

Idealism and Hegel
For B. Russell, idealism is a desperate attempt to keep mankind at the heart of the universe: `When the earth lost its central position, man too was deposed from his eminence. It became necessary to invent a metaphysic to correct the crudities of science. This task was achieved by the `idealists', who maintain that the world of matter is an unreal appearance. `Absolute' reality is Mind or Spirit'!

Jeremy Bentham
B. Russell shows that J. Bentham's philosophy is profoundly subversive, because the latter defined a `good' man as a man who does good and as a man whose activities and opinions are not pleasing to the holders of power.

Freedom and free thought
For B. Russell, `the bare minimum of freedom - food, drink, health, housing, clothing, sex and parenthood - should override any other claim.'
Thought is free when it is exposed to free competition among beliefs.

On education
The ideal of an all-round education is out of date, because it has been destroyed by the progress of knowledge.

On Marx
Marx proves conclusively that under capitalism wage-earners have suffered terrible privatizations. He does not (attempt to) prove that they will suffer less under communism.

On behaviorism (Dr. Watson)
For Dr. Watson, one of the most important elements in the judging of personality, character and ability is the history of the individual's yearly achievements and the yearly increases he received in his earnings! Russell asks: what about Jesus Christ, Buddha ...?

Man seen from the outside
`Our planet is a microscopic dot in the visible world. On this dot, tiny lumps of impure carbon and water (men) crawl about for a few years. They divide their time between labor designed to postpone the moment of dissolution for themselves and frantic struggles to hasten it for others of their kind. Natural convulsions and disease periodically destroy millions of them. These events are considered to be misfortunes; but when men succeed in inflicting similar destruction by their own efforts, they rejoice and give thanks to God.'

These frank, sarcastic and unambiguous essays are a must read for all those who love philosophy and who want to understand the universe we live in.