The Problems of Philosophy

The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell (1912)

The best introduction to philosophy ever written. In just 100 pages, Russell — Nobel laureate, mathematician, and public intellectual — explains what philosophy is, why it matters, and how it trains the mind to think clearly.

Historical Significance:
Russell wrote The Problems of Philosophy in 1912 for the Home University Library, a series of affordable educational books. He intended it as a simple introduction but produced a work of lasting brilliance. The book covers perception, reality, knowledge, truth, and the value of philosophy with extraordinary clarity. Russell's famous "table argument" — how do we know the table we see is real? — has introduced millions of students to epistemology. The final chapter, "The Value of Philosophy," is one of the most eloquent defenses of liberal education ever written: philosophy "keeps alive our sense of wonder" and frees us from "the tyranny of custom."

This public domain classic was originally published in 1912. Free to read and share.