Theme 1

1. What does Russell mean by "sense data" and why does he introduce this notion?

Russell uses the term “sense-data” to describe things that are immediately known to us, such as colours, sounds, smells, and so on. But a sensation of a color is not the same as the color itself. When we for example think we know something about an object we are using sense-data as properties to describe and associate to the object. But our senses can’t perfectly describe an object but only describe the relation between us and the object.

The sense-data is something personal and the sense-data for the same object might different from one person to another because it depends on the persons point of reference to an object.  

2. What is the meaning of the terms "proposition" and "statement of fact"? How does propositions and statement of facts differ from other kinds of verbal expressions?

Propositions is descriptive knowledge that lets us pass beyond the limits of our personal experiences. We know that something exists but we have not personally had the chance to get knowledge of the same object by acquaintance. These propositions are things we have not personally had the chance to know by “sense-data” . A statement of fact is something experienced and acquainted with, which has led to a belief. If the belief corresponds to some fact, that believe is true.

3. In chapter 5 ("Knowledge by Acquaintance and Knowledge by Description") Russell introduces the notion "definite description". What does this notion mean?

Russel defines a “definite descriptions” as words or sentences describing something in singular. He uses the phrases on on the form “the so-and-so” to define an object with “definite description”. Objects that are described on the form “a so-and-so” are examples of “ambiguous description”. Definite descriptions are things that you generally not have knowledge of the object by direct acquaintance. The knowledge comes from acquaintance with things regarding the object, which could be acquaintance for example by sense-data.

4. In chapter 13 ("Knowledge, Error and Probable Opinion") and in chapter 14 ("The Limits of Philosophical Knowledge") Russell attacks traditional problems in theory of knowledge (epistemology). What are the main points in Russell's presentation?

Russel thinks that scientific and philosophical knowledge are quite similar.

The essential characteristic for philosophy that makes it scientific knowledge is the

is criticisms. It examines critically the principles employed in science and in daily life and only accept them when no reason for rejecting them has appeared. But some things should be seen as true beliefs, rather than true knowledge.  Sometimes we are sure that something will happen, but since we haven’t experienced it yet we can't know for sure that it will actually happen. True beliefs can’t be knowledge when they are reasoned from false beliefs. Most of our knowledge know today could also just be seen just as probable opinions. To have complete knowledge of anything we need to know all the universal relations between all the objects or facts and also been acquainted with these personally.  Russells also mentions how opinions that are viewed individually are more likely to become probable if they are viewed  together with coherent opinions.