BertrandRussell

Pre-reading

BertrandRussell (May1872-February1970) wasaBritishphilosopher, logician, mathematician, essayist, ; heisheldtobeoneofthe20thcentury’, hispopularwritingsonawidevarietyoftopicsinboththehumanitiesandthenaturalscienceshavebenefitedgenerationsofgeneralreaders.In1950hewasawardedNobelPrizeinLiterature “inrecognitionofhisvariedandsignificantwritingsinwhichhechampionshumanitarianidealsandfreedomofthought”.HismajorworksincludeThePrinciplesofMathematics,HistoryofWesternPhilosophy,TheConquestofHappiness, tonamejustafew.

IntheprefacetothebookletTheConquestofHappiness, publishedin1930, Russellsays, “Noprofoundphilosophyordeeperuditionwillbefound...AllthatIclaimfortherecipesofferedtothereaderisthattheyaresuchasareconfirmedbymyownexperienceandobservation, andtheyhaveincreasedmyownhappinesswheneverIhaveactedinaccordancewiththem.”

TheHappyManisthelastchapterofTheConquestofHappiness.

PromptsforYourReading

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“liveobjectively” mean?

’sinterpretationofself-denial?

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’sinterpretationoflove?

(givingexamples) .