Anthony Clifford "A. C." Grayling is a British philosopher. In 2011 he founded and became the first Master of New College of the Humanities, an independent undergraduate college in London. Until June 2011, he was Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck, University of London, where he taught from 1991. He is also a supernumerary fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford.
He is a director and contributor at Prospect Magazine, as well as a Vice President of the British Humanist Association. His main academic interests lie in epistemology, metaphysics and philosophical logic. He has described himself as "a man of the left" and is associated in Britain with the new atheism movement, and is sometimes described as the 'Fifth Horseman of New Atheism'. He appears in the British media discussing philosophy.
This is the fourth book I've read about Bertrand Russell and the most satisfying.
The fact that part of this book, a chapter on logic and philosophy, goes beyond my understanding, even though a great simplification of Russell's work, is no drawback because it shows the astounding breadth and depth of the man's intellect. I think if I took the time to carefully go over the chapter, as I just might do, I could grasp something of what he was attempting to show; that mathematics is pure logic and that great confusions in philosophy could have been avoided if care had been taken over the logical meaning of what was being said.
In pursuit of clarity Russell, along with Alfred North Whitehead, came up with a symbolic language into which any statement in prose could be translated. This book gives a few fascinating examples making me wonder if any of us truly understand what it is we are saying when we speak or write. The answer might be that as long as we all misunderstand in the same way, meaning is not lost! I'm sure Russell would be astounded at how carelessly we speak these days what with every other word being "like" or meaningless fillers such as "know what I'm saying?" or "you know?"
Author A.C. Grayling writing is easily followed, never leaving anything undefined, a great help to the layman when words like epistemology and phenomenology are used and something Russell would approve highly with his lifelong wish to relate ideas to the common man. Russell was a prolific writer and speaker over his 97 years, as active on social issues as on logic. His newspaper articles were popular because he had a wry sense of humor that all could enjoy and he spoke with experience on subjects like love and education.
Here is what the author writes that stands out for me in explanation of Russell's popularity...
No one needs an excuse or a license to contribute to debate on the great questions of society...It is, arguably, a civic duty to be an informed participant...There is a good reason why (Russell's) contributions have a certain authority...(they are) supported by four priceless assets: an extraordinary intelligence, a lucid eloquence, a broad knowledge of history, and complete fearlessness in the face of opposition.
A quick and informative read, this book perfectly delivers on the promise of the "Very Short Introduction" series.
Nu este deloc o introducere. Trebuie s? ai cuno?tin?e de filosofie ?i logic? deja foarte bine st?p?nite. Autorul citeaza din filosofi ai sec al XX-lea cu o foarte mare usurinta, uitand de asemenea faptul ca cititorul nu are o cunoastere a priori asupra filosofiei.
Don't be fooled by how small this book is. It is incredibly dense and very hard going. To be fair, A.C. Grayling does warn you right at the beginning that several of the chapters explore Russell's philosophy of mathematics not in great depth, but definitely in enough depth that you really need to think. But it isn't a book you can read when you're tired or read quickly. Russell's ideas were amazing, but unless your brain works as fast as his did (and he took years writing his many works), it pays to take your time.
By no means an easy read. Being familiar with some fundamental philosophical terms is a necessity, and you may have to resort to writing definitions down while you read. You have to frequently stop to conduct thought experiments and test the ideas presented. That said, this is probably the most informative and inspiring VSI I've read thus far.
This biography “Russell: A Very Short Introduction” by A. C. Grayling would be, I think, a good foundation to those keen on reading his published books as well as in preparation for studying his philosophical works. Its contents are as follows: 1 Life and work 2 Logic and philosophy 3 Philosophy, mind, and science 4 Politics and society 5 Russell’s influence The first sentence in the Preface, “Russell lived long and did much.” (p. viii) has definitely affirmed his fame, wisdom and contribution as one of the great writers, philosophers and activists in the twentieth century.
A very capable introduction to Russell's thoughts and actions. Grayling did about as good of a job as one could do given the length constraints of the "Very Short Introduction" series. It would be difficult to get too descriptive when one only has 138 pages to deal with everything from Russell's personal life, to his contributions to mathematics, philosophy, pacifism, nuclear disarmament, educational policy, sex, atheism, etc. It served its purpose admirably, by giving me a taste of Russell's philosophy, and whetting my appetite for more.
A surprisingly good book. The vain and arrogant but perspicacious Russell shines well through the nauseatingly slavish Grayling.
Chapter 1: Life and work Chapter 2: Logic and philosophy Chapter 3: Philosophy, mind, and science Chapter 4: Politics and science Chapter 5: Russell's influence
I have to agree with other reviewers: It is probably a good introduction, but it is boring. Russell was so sharp and witty in his writing. An introduction to his life and writing could have bored a bit of that.
I liked the Chapter 4: Politics and science best. That was exactly what I was looking for.
"Many at the time found Russell’s views profoundly shocking. Marriage and Morals lost him his job in New York in 1940 (although ten years later, as noted, it earned him a Nobel Prize, which illustrates how unpredictable life can be)"
"Russell was not an atheist. He was, instead, an agnostic."
"On Russell’s view, a visit to the wards of any children’s hospital should be enough to make one feel either that there cannot be a deity, or that if there is one, it is a monster."
”Russell was famously asked what he would do if, upon dying, he discovered that God exists after all. He replied that he would take God to task for not providing sufficient evidence of his existence.” …. "if God exists he would approve of unbelievers who used their brains and saw that the evidence in favour of belief is inadequate."
"Russell proposed that a small minimum wage should be paid to everyone irrespective of whether or not he works"
"The only sure antidote to nationalism and the threat it poses, he argued, is World Government."
I was reading this as a companion to so it was a bit annoying to read that it is “in a number of places woefully inadequate as philosophical discussion. He made mistakes which students are now on their guard against in their earliest essays; for example, the ‘use-mention’ distinction, which marks the large difference between actually using an expression and talking about it. “ …. but no specifics. That did not make me any wiser.
Russell este unul dintre cei mai bine-cunoscu?i filosofi ai secolului al XX-lea. Faima sa - ?i, uneori, notorietatea sa - s-a datorat mai ales angaj?rii sale ?n controverse sociale ?i politice. A fost o persoan? cunoscut? marelui public timp de aproape 60 de ani, ap?r?nd in mass-media uneori ca un subiect de scandal ?i alteori, ?n perioadele sale respectabile, ca un c?rturar, ?n acest ultim rol sus?in?nd ?i conferin?e la radio. A avut multe de spus despre r?zboi ?i pace, despre moralitate, sexualitate, educa?ie ?i fericirea uman?. A publicat multe c?r?i ?i articole populare, iar punctele sale de vedere i-au atras o palet? vast? de replici, de la condamn?ri la ?nchisoare la Premiul Nobel . ?ns? contribu?iile sale cele mai importante ?i adev?ratul fundament al reputa?iei sale sunt de g?sit ?n domeniile tehnice ale logicii ?i filosofiei. Influen?a sa este at?t de r?sp?ndit?, at?t ?n privin?a temelor, c?t ?i a stilului filosofiei de limb? englez? din secolul al XX-lea, ?nc?t el este practic emblema acesteia. Filosofii folosesc tehnici ?i idei dezvoltate din lucr?rile sale f?r? s? simt? - uneori f?r? s? recunoasc? - nevoia de a-i men?iona numele; ori aceasta ?nseamn? o mare influen??. Din acest punct de vedere, contribu?ia sa la filosofie este mult mai semnificativ? dec?t cea a discipolului s?u, Ludwig Wittgenstein. Filosofia a ?nv??at c?teva lec?ii valoroase de la Wittgenstein, ?ns? de la Russell ea a dob?ndit un ?ntreg cadru, constituind ceea ce azi se nume?te " filosofie analitic?" .
Having read many of Russell's works and been a long-time admirer of his, I had little conception until reading this book of the true scope and scale of his contributions to politics, public thought, and most of all, to philosophy — which are monumental. The insights into his life and mind were illuminating indeed.
My problem with this book is that A.C. Grayling, another thinker whose works I have read and greatly enjoyed, simply failed to write an interesting and accessible overview. I have found all of Graylings' previous works to have been eminently readable as a layperson, and yet "Russell," which, as part of the "Very Short Introduction" series, one would imagine to be very down-to-earth, was as dry and dense as a textbook throughout most of the book. To take a figure as colorful, brilliant, and influential as Russell, and fail to produce an engaging read is regrettable, and uncharacteristic of Grayling. 2.5/5
What a book! I was very much a Bertrand Russell novice before reading this, and because of my weakness in math, I was worried that the ideas introduced would be difficult for me to understand. But this book clearly explained the complicated ideas that make the thought of Russell so fascinating and important. The ideas put forth by Russell are immensely important in the world we live in today, in regards to politics and society. His ideas in regards to language and grammar should be read by anyone who works with language-learners (as I do). His intensely intellectual ways of approaching problems concerning, among other things, logic and society, give me hope for the world we live in. May the intellectual spirit of Bertrand Russell live on.
I read this book mainly focused on chapters 1,2,3. I knew how important the Russell’s concepts effecting on the 20century philosophy, logic field and so on. I also deeply agree with his intuition about many points of society, humanity, war and peace. This book gave me satisfied felling and indicate further research direction of his philosophical form. The content of the book is condense enough covering Russell’s idea with how modifications. Some are still insightful nova-day.
This a great book about Russel, his life, his works and his impact. He was one of the first philosopher I have read; I enjoyed every bit of it, and I intend to read more of his work! The book is very short and to the point. It did not spend that much time on tangents like other books in the series, it walked through: his life, work, philosophy, politics and influence. Very good, one of the best of the series so far. (#59/#? A Very Short Introduction)
I needed to find out about Russell so I could lead a discussion of him.
This book actually covers all I needed rather well, but suffers because of what it is; short. But I was nervous of acquiring something weightier for fear of failing to understand it
It is well written - many times the prose is really rather dense (unsurprisingly) but at the same time would seem trivial to someone who actually knew the domain.
Grayling doet zijn best om aan te tonen dat Russell een grote filosoof en een groot mens was. Jammer genoeg is het moeilijk om Russells idee?n duidelijk te maken aan de eenvoudige van geest ( zoals Grayling al in zijn inleiding zei) Dit is mijn vierde boek uit de reeks kopstukken Filosofie en hier heb ik het minste van begrepen.