Russell - An Outline of Philosophy

London and New York

This edition first published in 1927
by George Allen & Unwin Ltd, London

First published in Routledge Classics 2009
by Routledge
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2009 The Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation Ltd

Introduction 1995 John G. Slater

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Russell, Bertrand, 18721970.
An outline of philosophy / Bertrand Russell.
p. cm. (Routledge Classics)
Originally published: London : George Allen & Unwin, 1927.
Includes index.
1. Philosophy. I. Title.
B1649.R9309 2009
100dc22
2008052491

ISBN13: 978-1-134-02747-7 ePub ISBN

ISBN10: 0-415-47345-4 (pbk)

ISBN10: 0-203-87546-X (ebk)

ISBN13: 978-0-415-47345-3 (pbk)

ISBN13: 978-0-203-87546-9 (ebk)

Russell wrote An Outline of Philosophy (Philosophy in the USA) between 1 April and 1 July 1927. The idea for the book originated with W. W. Norton, an American publisher who was eager to add Russell to his stable of authors. To advance his case, Norton wrote to Stanley Unwin, who had been Russells principal British publisher ever since he dared to publish Russells controversial book, Principles of Social Reconstruction (Why Men Fight in the USA) in 1916, after other publishers had turned it down because of Russells anti-war activities; in his letter, dated 19 July 1926, Norton sought to persuade Unwin that Russell would be better served by a single American publisher instead of the many he then had. At that time Russell had books with half a dozen American publishers. In addition to offering to work hard to sell his books, Norton made him a very attractive offer for his next one: If Mr. Russell has any general work in philosophy which he is considering or possibly has in preparation, we should be very glad to guarantee him the sum of $5,000.00 as royalties, and we should be willing to make a substantial advance against this sum. Unwin, who found Nortons argument for a single American publisher convincing, communicated the proposal to Russell on 29 July. Russell responded two days later; he was prepared to accept Nortons offer if Unwin was satisfied with the financial arrangements. He went on to say that he was in the process of finishing the first draft of The Analysis of Matter, which he had placed with Kegan Paul (a very sore point with Unwin), and planned to complete the revision of it at Christmas-time. When this book is off my mind, I should like to do a book treating of philosophy in general. It is not clear to me how popular he wants me to be; does he want the book to be easier than The Analysis of Mind?

Russell was not involved in the negotiations again until the autumn. Unwin, who functioned as his literary agent, had meanwhile settled the finances with Norton. On 14 October Russell told Unwin that he could write the book during the summer of 1927 with delivery in September. This quick schedule was possible because Russell was just then starting his delivery of a course of twenty lectures on Mind and Matter, under the auspices of the new British Institute for Philosophical Studies; during the previous year he had offered a similar course on the Problems of Philosophy for the same Institute. The lectures that I am giving, he wrote to Unwin, would form a framework for the book, but the whole would have to be written out afresh. The syllabuses for these lecture courses have been published in Appendix III of Essays on Language, Mind and Matter, 19191926, which is Volume 9 of The Collected Papers of Bertrand Russell. The finished book does not follow either syllabus, although nearly all of the topics covered in his lectures are discussed in the book. The fact that he had so recently developed these courses makes it clear why he so quickly agreed to Nortons proposal for a general book in philosophy. Russell was always ready to rework such popular material if it increased his income.

On 22 October 1926 Unwin sent Russell a signed contract for the book, specifying that a manuscript of about 100,000 words was to be delivered to him on or before 31 October 1927. Russell was to receive an advance against royalties of 200 about one-fifth of Nortons guarantee. Unwin, who was still smarting over Russells failure to offer him The Analysis of Matter, was happy to have a new Russell title for his 1927 list. Even though the contract had been signed, there was still a question about the level at which the book should be pitched. Russell broached this question in a letter to Unwin on 17 November:

Would you mind giving me your idea as to its scope? Should it attempt to deal popularly with all philosophy, or with the problem of Mind and Matter? Should the level of popularity be that of The Problems of Philosophy (Home University Library), or that of Our Knowledge of the External World, or that of The Analysis of Mind? I want to be thinking it over during the winter, though I cant begin writing till April.

I should myself prefer Mind and Matter. Have you any views as to title?

Unwin advised him that the American market would prefer a book which dealt popularly with all of philosophy, and which was no more demanding on the general reader than The Problems of Philosophy. Personally, he would choose the book that you yourself preferred to write, because the more you enjoyed writing it the more people would enjoy reading it, but he doubted that such a book would prove popular enough for the United States market.

By the end of March 1927 Norton was becoming edgy by Russells failure to supply him with any information about the proposed book, so he wrote to Unwin to urge him to remind Russell of his contractual obligations. Norton complained that they did not even have a title for advertising purposes, and stated that he would be satisfied with