In this brilliant, provocative and controversial work, Russell questions the reliability of our assumptions about knowledge - how it is we come to know what we 'know' - and investigates the relationship between 'individual' and 'scientific' knowledge. 'The nearest thing to a systematic philosophy written by one who does not believe in systems of philosophy. Its scope is encyclopedic?a joy to read.' - New York Times 'His intelligibility comes of stating things directly as he himself seems them, sharply defined and readily crystallized in the best English philosophical style.' - The Times Literary Supplement