Theory of Knowledge gives us a picture of one of the great minds of the twentieth century at work. It is possible to see the unsolved problems left without disguise or evasion. Historically, it is invaluable to our understanding of both Russell's own thought and his relationship with Wittgenstein.

Bertrand Russell's professional philosophical reputation rests mainly on his mathematical logic and theory of knowledge. In this study, first published in 1985, however, Kenneth Blackwell considers Russell's writings on ethics and metaethics and uncovers the conceptual unity in Russell's normative ethic. He traces that unity to the influence of Spinoza's central ethical concept, the 'intellectual love of God', and then evaluates the ethic which he terms 'impersonal self-enlargement'. The introduction discusses the metaethical background to Russell's ethic and the difficulties inherent in Russell's view that ethical knowledge is not possible. The first section then examines Russell's writings on Spinoza from 1894 to 1964, dividing them into three periods, the second part analyzes Russell's two interpretations of the main concept, traces 'impersonal self-enlargement' in Russell's own ethical writings, and evaluates the ethic in relation to other ethical theories and on its own merits as a 'way of living'. This book provides a foundation for a positive re-evaluation of Russell's status in the major philosophical field of ethics and will be welcomed by students of moral philosophy as well as those interested in Bertrand Russell's works.

Bertrand Russell's professional philosophical reputation rests mainly on his mathematical logic and theory of knowledge. In this study, first published in 1985, however, Kenneth Blackwell considers Russell's writings on ethics and metaethics and uncovers the conceptual unity in Russell's normative ethic. He traces that unity to the influence of Spinoza's central ethical concept, the 'intellectual love of God', and then evaluates the ethic which he terms 'impersonal self-enlargement'. The introduction discusses the metaethical background to Russell's ethic and the difficulties inherent in Russell's view that ethical knowledge is not possible. The first section then examines Russell's writings on Spinoza from 1894 to 1964, dividing them into three periods, the second part analyzes Russell's two interpretations of the main concept, traces 'impersonal self-enlargement' in Russell's own ethical writings, and evaluates the ethic in relation to other ethical theories and on its own merits as a 'way of living'. This book provides a foundation for a positive re-evaluation of Russell's status in the major philosophical field of ethics and will be welcomed by students of moral philosophy as well as those interested in Bertrand Russell's works.

Series Information:
Collected Papers of Bertrand Russell

"Contains a great deal of varied and interesting writing from Russell's first decade as an independent thinker the great themes of God and freewill, immortality and conscience are rehearsed with charm and penetration Russell shows an exuberant delight in ingenious reasoning, expressed in the fewest possible words and in the least encumbered way, that was to remain with him as a kind of trademark -- Anthony Quinton, "The Times"

In 1965 President Lyndon Johnson launched the War on Poverty as a centerpiece of the Great Society's effort to eliminate poverty in America. Forty years and many trillions of dollars later, poverty in America has increased, not decreased, despite the vast efforts of the largest governmental welfare system ever created in human history. In direct challenge to the political thinking that built the welfare state, Rebuilding America presents the outline of a bold plan for the overall elimination of poverty. The strategy of this new effort focuses on mobilizing the assets of urban America that have been largely cast aside and ignored by forty years of Great Society schemes. The approach proposed by J. Kenneth Blackwell emphasizes developing the urban landscape and creating meaningful employment for the poor without imposing additional tax burdens on the American people. Unlike the programs of the Great Society, this new approach can actually break the welfare dependency that has encouraged mothers to remain single and has dispossessed so many fathers from their families. Rebuilding America argues for a phase-out of the welfare state by applying new techniques of public finance, not imposing additional taxes. It calls for financial institutions to deploy new capital into rebuilding our cities, providing them with incentives to work with established and newly formed corporations to integrate jobs with retraining programs in communities. By encouraging an "ownership society," the new initiative will correct the old flaw that sacrificed families and self-respect for the sake of bureaucratic systems and regulations. Rebuilding America aims at encouraging all families to thrive and be successful instead of depending on the governmental programs that stole their futures from them. While the focus of this book is on the state of Ohio, it has much wider implications. It serves as an alternative, conservative model for attacking urban poverty that can be applied nationwide.