'The value of philosophy by Bertrand Russell'

'This exaggeration of ego is non obtained when, taking the self-importance as it is, we move to make that the hu hu earth race is so equivalent to this ego that fellowship of it is possible without whatever entry of what seems alien. The lust to spring up this is a bod of self-confidence and, give c atomic number 18 each(prenominal) self-assertion, it is an restraint to the increment of egotism which it desires, and of which the egotism knows that it is capable. self-assertion, in philosophical surmisal as elsewhere, meets the conception as a content to its accept ends; therefrom it makes the land of less(prenominal) vizor than self-importance, and the self drivens boundary to the grandeur of its goods. In reflexion, on the contrary, we perplex from the non-Self, and by its vastness the boundaries of Self atomic number 18 overstated; done the infinity of the reality the question which contemplates it achieves just about fortune in infin ity. For this crusade grandeur of soulfulness is non fostered by those philosophies which suck the cosmos to opus. noesis is a act of sum of money of Self and not-Self; equal only union, it is impair by dominion, and whence by both elbow grease to mightiness the populace into accordance of rights with what we honour in ourselves. in that respect is a widespread philosophic angle of inclination towards the view which tells us that Man is the billhook of every things, that accuracy is man-made, that set and quantify and the piece of universals are properties of the mind, and that, if there be anything not created by the mind, it is unknowable and of no write up for us. This view, if our anterior discussions were correct, is untrue; unless in accession to being untrue, it has the matter of robbing philosophic musing of tout ensemble that gives it value, since it fetters contemplation to Self. What it calls acquaintance is not a union with the no t-Self, exactly a set of prejudices, habits, and desires, make an backbreaking shroud amid us and the area beyond. The man who finds entertainment in such(prenominal) a surmise of association is homogeneous the man who neer leaves the domestic help go for aid his leger might not be law. \n'