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The Analysis of Mind

by Bertrand Russell (1872–1970)

  • Free to read
  • 6 hours to read
  • 16 chapters
  • Reading level: 10th to 12th grade

"The Analysis of Mind" by Bertrand Russell is a philosophical examination that explores the nature of mental phenomena and their relationship to consciousness, written in the early 20th century. This work seeks to scrutinize established definitions of mind and consciousness, engaging with contemporary psychological and physical theories to provide a comprehensive understanding of mental processes. The opening of the book presents the author's intention to analyze what occurs during mental activities like believing and desiring, laying out a critical examination against the traditional notion that consciousness is a fundamental element of mental experiences. Russell begins by rejecting the commonly held belief that consciousness is an essential characteristic that defines mental phenomena, arguing instead that both "mind" and "matter" may stem from a more primitive substance that underlies both. He introduces various psychological theories, including behaviorism and psychoanalysis, emphasizing the importance of observable behavior and the potential issues surrounding self-awareness in understanding desires and beliefs. Throughout this introduction, Russell sets the stage for a thorough exploration of mental occurrences beyond simplistic interpretations typically found in philosophy and psychology.

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  • Psychology
  • Consciousness
  • Knowledge, Theory of

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Muirhead Library of Philosophy

By Bertrand Russell

1921

An admirable statement of the aims of the Library of Philosophy was provided by the first editor, the late Professor J. H. Muirhead, in his description of the original programme printed in Erdmann's History of Philosophy under the date 1890. This was slightly modified in subsequent volumes to take the form of the following statement:

"The Muirhead Library of Philosophy was designed as a contribution to the History of Modern Philosophy under the heads: first of Different Schools of Thought—Sensationalist, Realist, Idealist, Intuitivist; secondly of different Subjects—Psychology, Ethics, Aesthetics, Political Philosophy, Theology. While much had been done in England in tracing the course of evolution in nature, history, economics, morals and religion, little had been done in tracing the development of thought on these subjects. Yet 'the evolution of opinion is part of the whole evolution'.

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Contents

  1. Muirhead Library of Philosophy
  2. Preface
  3. The Analysis of Mind
  4. Lecture Ii. Instinct and Habit
  5. Lecture Iii. Desire and Feeling
  6. Lecture V. Psychological and Physical Causal Laws
  7. Lecture Vi. Introspection
  8. Lecture Vii. The Definition of Perception
  9. Lecture Viii. Sensations and Images
  10. Lecture Ix. Memory
  11. Lecture X. Words and Meaning
  12. Lecture Xi. General Ideas and Thought
  13. Lecture Xii. Belief
  14. Lecture Xiii. Truth and Falsehood
  15. Lecture Xiv. Emotions and Will
  16. Lecture Xv. Characteristics of Mental Phenomena

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About this edition

This free edition of The Analysis of Mind by Bertrand Russell comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #2529, released 2001-02-01. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Psychiatry/Psychology, Philosophy & Ethics.

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