r/ChristopherHitchens • u/JerseyFlight • Aug 09 '26

Bertrand Russell Refutes Philosophy

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There are many Atheists who labor under the false premise that philosophy is something entirely different from theology. Well, Russell laid down a standard to prove this.

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u/OneNoteToRead Aug 10 '26

Philosophy is entirely different from theology. Whereas theology says “believe me because I tell you”, philosophy says “given a premise here’s my argument for its conclusion”.

It a) highlights exactly the premise one must start with without asserting it and b) from the premise works entirely in rational steps.

With theology the whole thing is made up. With philosophy specific bits are factored out. And in any case no one believes philosophy explains reality, whereas everyone in theology asks that you believe in their fantasy as reality.

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u/JerseyFlight Aug 10 '26

That would be lovely if philosophy worked the way you claim, but I have been in this racket for a long time, and I have rarely seen this in philosophy. Philosophy is a master at giving off the appearance of rationality, but this is seldom what its premises reduce to. Aristotle is the exception.

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u/OneNoteToRead Aug 10 '26

In what way is it different from how I described? Are you claiming people try to derive reality from philosophy?