The Value of Philosophy : Review

An illustration of Bertrand Russel.

Bertrand Russell, in his essay titled, ‘The Value of Philosophy,’ posits the question ‘What is the value of Philosophy and why it ought to be studied?’ He presents us the general impression that people interested in the sciences and practical affairs have about philosophy, that is, it is a ‘trifle’ and a fruitless pursuit that yields no answers. 

Russell argues that the value of philosophy must be seen not from the view of the sciences and practical affairs but by its effect on people who study it and implement it in their lives. Philosophy, according to him, is food for the mind. 

Russell then draws a similarity between other disciplines and philosophy by stating that the eventual aim of all disciplines is the pursuit of knowledge. However, philosophy does not have the answers and if it did, the subject ceased to be philosophy. For example, Astronomy and psychology were studied under philosophy and only later did they come to be studied as separate scientific entities. Such a condition thus makes philosophy a ‘residue of questions with no definite answers.’

He then opines that the value of philosophy is in its uncertainty. It is human nature to question and seek answers and to a person who does not do so, life becomes finite, definite and obvious. Philosophy offers a way out of a measly mundane existence and seeks to enlarge our thoughts and frees us from the ‘tyranny of custom.’ 

Although philosophy leaves us in doubt and makes us indecisive, it takes us to a region of ‘liberating doubt,’ which shows us familiar things in an unfamiliar light. The life of philosophy is one of calmness and freedom.

The value of philosophy must not only be seen from a utilitarian perspective but must be seen as the study of a subject which transcends petty personal aims and narrow and are aimed at private self-interest. 

Russel likens a life lived in an instinctive way to a life of confinement and restriction. In such a life, the eventual destruction of the individual as a beleaguered person is inevitable. One of the ways to avoid such a fate would be philosophic contemplation. 

Philosophic contemplation does not aim at proving that the rest of the universe is akin to man. Although all pursuit of knowledge is an enlargement of the self; this enlargement is best attained when it is not directly sought. Russell gives us a way to attain this. He says that the desire for knowledge is the only operative and this must include adapting the self to the characters it finds in its subjects. If we do not do so, or, if we try and show that the world is similar to the ‘self,’ without admitting the unknown, it would be selfish self-assertion and is an impediment to growth. However, if we start from the not-self, the boundaries of the self are also enlarged to the infinity of the universe.

Russell says that Knowledge is a form of union of the self and the not-self. He does no believe in the attempt to force the view of the universe into conformity with what we find in ourselves. 

Russell criticizes the common tendency through which man is made the measure of all things and by which space, truth, time, et cetera are all properties of the mind.

This view discourages the study of anything that is beyond the creation of the mind. Such a view also deprives philosophic contemplation of its value. This worldview is a product of prejudices, habits and desires; obstructing the scope of learning more about the unknown.

Therefore, philosophic contemplation finds fulfilment in anything that magnifies the objects contemplated and thereby, the subject contemplating.

A mind accustomed to philosophy becomes free and impartial when faced with such a situation in the world of action and emotion.

Lastly, Russell sums up the discussion of the essay in two points. Firstly, he says, philosophy is to be studied not for the sake of any definite answers but for the sake of the questions themselves; because the questions expand our outlook/intellect and also teaches us to question and not conform with otherwise ‘dogmatic assurances.’ Lastly, philosophy is to be studied because through the study of it, the greatness of the universe can be contemplated and such an exercise is of great benefit for the mind.