When I was young, most teachers of philosophy in British…
““When I was young, most teachers of philosophy in British and American universities were Hegelians, so that, until I read Hegel, I supposed there must be some truth to his system; I was cured, however, by discovering that everything he said on the philosophy of mathematics was plain nonsense.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Russell recounts his early belief in Hegelian philosophy, then rejects it after finding Hegel's mathematical claims nonsensical.
In simple terms: He once trusted Hegel, then realized his math ideas were wrong.
Key Takeaway
Question authority and test ideas critically.
Themes
philosophy
education
critical thinking
mathematics
Mood
inquisitive
critical
Type
academic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic lecture
- personal reflection
- philosophical debate
Key Concepts
skepticism
logic
analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you accept ideas without scrutiny?
- How can you verify philosophical claims?
A Different Perspective
Hegel’s system still influences some curricula.