ABSTRACT
The writings of Bertrand Russell have spanned century; covering in their course every major area of human and scientific endeavor. His popular impact, while uneven, is beyond dispute. He combines what has become a rare gift for a philosopher: a lucid development of ideas with a fine writing style. Russell himself has made clear that his is a compartmentalized philosophy. In his theory of human knowledge Russell is under the direct influence of Berkeleyian empiricism. From birth, Russell was initiated in the ways of the aristoi. His family tree showed remarkable ingenuity in making the "great compromise" with the English haute bourgeoisie. As his publishers continually remind, his grandfather, Lord John Russell, was British Foreign Secretary in the American Civil War period. Russell's theory of conflict begins with a premise on the nature of human nature, one which he has held throughout his career and is based on an instinctualist psychology.
