A History of Western Philosophy

The Introductory sets forth some points about philosophy in general and about the method Russell will use in the book, as well as giving evidence of Russell’s own distinct philosophical viewpoint. Russell situates philosophy as “something intermediate between theology and science” (xiii). Like theology, philosophy seeks to answer deep metaphysical and moral questions, but, like science, its appeal is to human reason rather than to authority or revelation. As such, philosophy is something of a “No Man’s Land” (xiii) and has been open to attack from both religion and science. Yet, while the questions of philosophy are beyond science’s ability to answer, people in the modern world are no longer satisfied with the definite answers provided by theology.

Philosophy asks the deepest questions of existence, including whether or not the universe has any goal or purpose, what man’s place in the universe is, and how we should live our lives. This implies that philosophy is closely connected to the historical narrative of mankind and civilization. Russell’s purpose in the book will be to depict this history, emphasizing how social circumstances have influenced philosophical beliefs, and vice versa. Russell sees the history of philosophy as an interaction between freedom and authority—as embodied in social or political bonds—in which mankind gradually frees itself from dogmas and learns to “live without certainty” (xiv).