My desire and wish is that the things I start with should be so obvious that you wonder why I spend my time stating them. This is what I aim at because the point of philosophy is to start with something so simple as not to seem worth stating, and to end with something so paradoxical that no one will believe it.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Philosophy should begin with obvious, almost trivial statements and end with paradoxes that challenge belief.
- In plain terms
- Start simple, finish paradoxical.
- What can you take from it?
- Use simple premises to reveal surprising conclusions.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What obvious truth could you question?
- How do paradoxes affect your convictions?
Another view
Not all philosophical work aims for paradox; many seek practical solutions.
More from Bertrand Russell
I do not pretend to start with precise questions. I do not think you can start with anything precise. You have to achieve such precision as you can, as you go …
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Permalink to quote #79 The process of philosophizing, to my mind, consists mainly in passing from those obvious, vague, ambiguous things, that we feel quite sure of, to something pre…
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