2023

Bertrand Russell wrote The Analysis of Mind during one of the most turbulent periods of his life. He began it in 1918 whilst in in prison in London for his opposition to the First World War, and completed it in Peking (now Beijing) in 1921, where he had been giving lectures at the National University.

It is a vital book for understanding Russell’s philosophy. He argues for a fresh conception of the mind, provided by his eclectic fusion of William James’s ‘neutral monism’; the emerging theory of behaviourism, to which Russell was strongly drawn; and his own new causal theory of meaning. As such, The Analysis of Mind built a foundation for the distinctive brand of much of his later philosophical writing. In his customary sharp prose, Russell explores fundamental questions about the mind, including desire and feeling; the vexed relationship between psychological and physical laws; sensations and mental images; memory; belief; and emotions and the will.

This Routledge Classics edition includes an Introduction by Thomas Baldwin.

The Analysis of Matter is the product of thirty years of thinking by one of the twentieth century’s best-known philosophers. An inquiry into the philosophical foundations of physics, it was written against the background of stunning new developments in physics earlier in the century, above all relativity, as well as the excitement around quantum theory, which was just being developed.

Concerned to place physics on a stable footing at a time of great theoretical change, Russell argues that the concept of matter itself can be replaced by a logical construction whose basic foundations are events. He is careful to point out that this does not prove that matter does not exist, but it does show that physicists can get on with their work without assuming that matter does exist. Russell argues that fundamental bits of ”matter”, such as electrons and protons, are simply groups of events connected in a certain way and their properties are all that are required for physics.

This Routledge Classics edition includes the 1992 Introduction by John G. Slater.

Critical Thinking: The Basics is an accessible and engaging introduction to the field of critical thinking. drawing on philosophy. communication. and psychology. Emphasising its relevance both to academic literacy and to decision-making in a range of contexts. this book introduces and explains the knowledge. methods. and skills needed to identify and avoid poor reasoning. reconstruct and evaluate arguments. and engage constructively in dialogues.

Topics covered include:

The relationship between critical thinking. emotions. and the psychology of persuasion
The role of character dispositions such as open-mindedness. courage. and self-knowledge
Argument identification and reconstruction
Fallacies and argument evaluation.
This second edition has been revised and updated throughout. and includes an additional chapter on the relationship between critical thinking and emotions. There are also new sections on concepts such as the ‘experiential mind’ and ‘need for cognitive closure’. and contemporary examples drawn from issues including conspiracy theories. the pandemic. and misuses of social media.

With updated and expanded discussion questions/exercises and suggestions for further reading at the end of each main chapter. this book is an essential read for students approaching the field of critical thinking for the first time. and for the general reader wanting to improving their thinking skills and decision-making abilities.