The Companion to Bertrand Russell

Bertrand Russell ranks as one of the giants of twentieth-century philosophy. Through his books, journalism, correspondence and political activity he exerted a profound influence on modern thought. This companion centers on Russell's contributions to modern philosophy and, therefore, concentrates on the early part of his career. There are chapters on Russell's contributions to the foundations of mathematics, and on his development of logical methods in philosophy and their application to such fields as epistemology, metaphysics and the philosophy of language. The intellectual background to his work is covered, as is his engagement with such contemporaries as Frege and G. E. Moore. The final chapter considers Russell as a moral philosopher. New readers will find this the most convenient and accessible guide to Russell available. Advanced students and specialists will find a conspectus of recent developments in the interpretation of Russell.

Table of Contents

Introduction Nicholas Griffin
1. Mathematics in and behind Russell's logicism, and its reception I. Grattan-Guinness
2. Russell's philosophical background Nicholas Griffin
3. Russell and Moore, 1898–1905 Richard L. Cartwright
4. Russell and Frege Michael Beaney
5. Bertrand Russell's logicism Martin Godwyn and A. D. Irvine
6. The theory of description Peter Hylton
7. Russell's substitutional theory Gregory Landini
8. The theory of types Alasdair Urquhart
9. Russell's method of analysis Paul Hager
10. Russell's neutral monism R. E. Tully
11. The metaphysics of logical atomism Bernard Linsky
12. Russell's structuralism and the absolute description of the world William Demopoulos
13. From knowledge by acquaintance to knowledge by causation Thomas Baldwin
14. Russell, experience and the roots of science A. C. Grayling
15. Bertrand Russell: moral philosopher or unphilosophical moralist? Charles R. Pidgen.