In this intelligible and thought-provoking guide to the fundamentals of philosophical thought, Russell initially asks the question: Why study philosophy? In developing the answer he offers lucid considerations of such topics as the distinction between appearance and reality, the existence and nature of matter, idealism, inductive logic, intuitive knowledge, truth and falsehood, knowledge, error and probable opinion; the limits of philosophical knowledge, the value of philosophy, and other topics.

Originally published: London : Williams and Norgate, 1912.

Appearance and reality -- The existence of matter -- The nature of matter -- Idealism -- Knowledge by acquaintance and knowledge by description -- On induction -- On our knowledge of general principles -- How a priori knowledge is possible -- The world of universals -- On our knowledge of universals -- Truth and falsehood -- Knowledge, error, and probable opinion -- The limits of philosophical knowledge -- The value of philosophy.