Bertrand Russell on Modality and Logical Relevance

by Jan Dejnozka

Overview

First published in 1999, this volume re-examines Bertrand Russell’s views on modal logic and logical relevance, arguing that Russell does in fact accommodate modality and modal logic. The author, Jan Dejnožka, draws together Russell’s comments and perspectives from throughout his canon in order to demonstrate a coherent view on logical modality and logical relevance. To achieve this, Dejnožka explores questions including whether Russell has a possible worlds logic, Rescher’s case against Russell, Russell’s three levels of modality and the motives and origins of Russell’s theory of modality.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780429861710
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/13/2018
Series:	Routledge Revivals
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	252
File size:	453 KB

About the Author

Jan Dejnozka is a visiting scholar of Law and Philosophy at the University of Michigan. His articles have appeared in Russell, International Studies in Philosophy, Dialogos and The International Journal for Philosophy.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction. 2. Propositional Functions and Possible Worlds. 3. Russell’s Three Levels of Modality. 4. The Ontological Foundation. 5. Rescher’s Case Against Russell. 6. The Strength of Russell’s Modal Logic. 7. Does Russell Have a Possible Worlds Logic? 8. The Motives and Origins of Russell’s Theory of Modality. 9. Russell’s Relevance Logic. 10. Russell, Keynes, and the Legal Origins of Logical Relevance.

What People are Saying About This

Ivor Grattan-Guinness

In the twenty-five years since Russell's death, much of the major scholarship has drawn heavily on his manuscripts and unpublished correspondence. The author shows that the published Russell is capable of new interpretations; in particular, that modal notions such as possibility have a greater place in various aspects of his logical and philosophical thought than has previously been imagined.

Editorial Reviews

Surprising many by showing that Russell did in fact have views on modality, though scattered through his writings, Dejnozka (philosophy and law, U. of Michigan-Ann Arbor) explores what he thought about logical necessity, and also causal, epistemic, and moral necessity. He describes how the 20th-century philosopher functionally accepted and assimilated modality into his philosophical system even as he rejected what he considered certain more primitive accounts of it. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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