Chapt. 17

Factual question: To place does Russell relate our natural human passions to? (P.167)

Discussion question: "Where outward circumstances are not definitely unfortunate, a man should be able to achieve happines, provided that his passions and interests are directed outward, not inward." (P.167)

- When I read this, and the whole chapter in general, I get a strong feeling that Russell rejects the notion that we should think that the self is important, atleast in regards to the world. It's almost like what a "tough" father would say to his son - "get over it, move on, be a man" - and I can't help but see this as just suppresing your feelings, especially negative ones, and slowly degrading into a more unhappy person. Now no doubt for more intellectual people these negative thoughts may be easier to rationalize, but for some, perhaps even the most unhappy, I don't see this being a key to happiness.