Book Review: The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell (with an Introduction by John Skorupski)

This work of Bertrand Russell was originally published in 1912. In this he covers many interesting themes. Some of them include subjects, such as the distinction between appearance and reality, the existence and nature of matter, idealism, knowledge by the acquaintance and by description, induction, and the limits and the value of philosophical knowledge. I have tried to cover of the points in the book review.

All our knowledge, both knowledge of things and knowledge of truths, rests upon acquaintance as its foundation (p. 26). The chief importance of knowledge by description is that it enables us to pass beyond the limits of our private experience (p. 32).

The author also writes about the controversy between the empiricists and the rationalists. He states that the 'empiricists- who are best represented by the British philosophers, Locke, Berkeley, and Hume- maintained that all our knowledge is derived from experience the rationalists- who are represented by the Continental philosophers of the seventeenth century, especially Descartes and Leibniz- maintained that, in addition to what we know by experience, there are certain 'innate ideas' and 'innate principles', which we know independently of experience' (p. 41).

Russell says that 'minds do not create truth or falsehood. They create beliefs, but when once the beliefs are created, the mind cannot make them true or false, except in the special case where they concern future things which are within the power of the person believing, such as catching trains' (p. 75).

According to the author the main characteristic of philosophy which makes it distinct from science is criticism. Philosophy 'examines critically the principles employed in science and in daily life; it searches out any inconsistences there may be in these principles, and it only accepts then when, as the result of a critical inquiry, no reason for rejecting them as appeared' (p. 87).

The author writes that 'the value of philosophy is, in fact, to be sought largely in its very uncertainty. The man who has no tincture of philosophy goes through life imprisoned in the prejudices derived from common sense, from the habitual beliefs of his age of his nation, and from convictions which have grown up in his mind without the co-operation or consent of his deliberate reason' (p. 91). Further on the same page Russell states that ' philosophy, though unable to tell us with certainty what is the true answer to the doubts which it raises, is able to suggest many possibilities which enlarge our thoughts and free the from the tyranny of custom' (p. 91).

Russell suggests that 'philosophy is to be studied, not for the sake of any definite answers to its questions, since no definite answers can, as a rule, be known to be true, but rather for the sake of questions themselves; because these questions enlarge our conception of what is possible, enrich our intellectual imagination, and diminish the dogmatic assurance which closes the mind against speculation; but above all because, through the greatness of the universe which philosophy contemplates, the mind also is rendered great, and becomes capable of that union with the universe which constitutes its highest good' (p. 94).

Read More

Book Review: Glimpses Into The Corridors of Power by Gohar Ayub Khan

Gohar Ayub Khan's book provides an insight to the upper echelons of power in Pakistan. Basically this book serves as an autobiography. Khan provides details of his grandfather and father. He also briefly traces his family history. Ayub Khan's father was a Risaldar Major, and when he passed away Ayub was away from home. When Ayub returned home he opened his father's grave (p. 8). I am not certain if this is still practiced in Pakistan. 

The author also writes about the brothers of Ayub Khan and their appointments. One of Ayub Khan's brother was posted in Chilas. Ayub himself was once posted in Waziristan. Gohar writes that his father Ayub Khan rode a bicycle to office when he was a Major General (p. 40). Gohar also writes that Ayub Khan raised the SSG in Cherat. Ayub had made ZAB the Secretary General of Muslim League (p. 142). Ayub Khan passed away in 1974.

Gohar Ayub went to Burn Hall School Srinagar where English was the only language allowed. Burn Hall was later shifted to Abbottabad in 1947, into the old Abbott Hotel (p. 17). Gohar Ayub also writes about the discrimination faced by Indian cadets at Sandhurst (p. 25). He also mentions about the discriminations faced by East Pakistanis, as they were patronized by the people of West Pakistan. 

The author writes that Iskander Mirza was forced to resign and then he went to London. Gohar Ayub writes that G. Allana was sent by Bhutto to Mumbai to revisit the pandit who had make certain predictions about Bhutto's life (p. 141-42). Chinese wanted to build the KKH to be far from Soviet reach, that is why Kilik was avoided (p. 108). Gohar states that Yahya Khan had a draft constitution ready well before the 1971 war (p. 136).

When Zia was in power he kept Asghar Khan under house arrest for four years (p. 140). Zia allowed the establishment of a cement factory in Islamabad which was against the laws of CDA (p. 192). Gohar Ayub had good relations with Nusrat Bhutto. She expressed her wish to become Ambassador of a European country (p. 213). Gohar helped her in the process and when everything was almost done, Nusrat backtracked, most probably because of Benazir. 

Gohar says that Benazir did everything possible to damage Nawaz Sharif's businesses (p. 207). Nawaz Sharif's father was arrested on the instruction of Benazir (p. 254). In 1997 Pakistan Muslim League won two third of the seats in the National Assembly (p. 264). Nawaz Sharif appointed one of his close friends (a businessman) as the Honorary Counsel General in Washington. Gohar Ayub suggested Nawaz Sharif to keep four things in mind to ensure success- to keep good relations with the President, the Army Chief, the Americans, and make no open declarations of war against India (p. 210). 

Further in the book, there are details about the Gandhara Industries, meeting Zhou Enlai, Yahya Khan's decisions, politics of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Tashkent declaration, relationship with China, testing bombs, economic issues of Pakistan and civil-military relations. A very interesting revelation by Gohar Ayub was that the National Assembly library was used only by 3.5 percent of all the MNAs (p. 235). Another interesting incident is about 13 Chinese nationals who crossed into Pakistan via the Shimshal Pass.

Pakistan gave $10 million each to the Central Asian States in 1992, for development projects (p. 295). Moreover, in the book Gohar also writes that the people and the administration of Northern Areas quote a letter written in 1937, which claims the village of Bhasha to be in Northern Areas (p. 313). In this book Gohar includes his decisions upon his return to Islamabad after visiting the region. This book also includes the events up till the appointment of General Ziauddin Butt as the new Army Chief.

I found this book very interesting as it gives a personal account of various events in Pakistan's political history. 

Read More

Book Review: In Praise of Idleness by Bertrand Russell

This collection of Russell contains different essays on social questions in which he scrutinizes many aspects of modern life. Spread over fifteen chapters, Russell makes interesting points, some of which I mention in this book review. 

Russell believes that formerly there was 'a capacity for light-heartedness and play which has been to some extent inhibited by the cult of efficiency' (p. 22). He also says that the more we know the more harm we can do each other (p. 151). Regarding fruits he adds that apricots and peaches were first cultivated in China (p. 35).

Writing about America Russell states that America is a man-made world; moreover it is a world which man has made by means of machinery (p. 143). In America 'educational commissions point out that fifteen hundred words are all that most people employ in business correspondence, and therefore suggest that all others should be avoided in the school curriculum' (p. 29).

Russell stresses on the need to introduce a communal element into architecture (p. 44). He further adds in the same chapter, that it is marriage and the family that introduce the instinct of privacy (p. 47). Russel enforces that the world needs two things. One is socialism and the other one is peace. Both are contrary to the interest of the most powerful men of our time (p. 80). He claims that in Germany and Italy Fascism arose out of Socialism, by rejecting whatever was anti-nationalistic in the orthodox program (p. 86).

Russell says that many modern inventions tend to make people silly (p. 136). He further says that 'the effect of mass production and elementary education is that stupidity is more firmly entrenched than at any other time since the rise of civilization' (p. 138). Russell writes that uniformity in matters of  thought and opinion is much more dangerous (p. 144). Regarding writers that author is of the view that it requires 'unusual firmness of character to produce good work and remain poor' (p. 106).

Russel also states that 'science and industrialism are nowadays the distinctive marks of western civilization' (p. 120). Russell says that he is afraid that Europe, however intelligent, has always been rather horrid, except in the brief period between 1848 and 1914 (p. 131). 

Overall in the book the author writes about superstition, power, economics, common characteristics of fascism, industrialism, war, socialism, skepticism, belief, civilization, science, peace, cinema, language, power, modernity, and many other ideas. 

Read More

Book Review: Property Taxes and State Incapacity in Pakistan by Muhammad Mujtaba Piracha

Piracaha tries to provide answers to some of the most serious questions regarding taxation in Punjab, the most populated province of Pakistan. The author discusses the reasons behind the low property tax in Punjab, inter-governmental politics, low fiscal equilibrium, public service delivery, formal tax collection, questions of enforcement and what can be done to improve the tax collection. In the preface of the book Pircaha writes about the 'fiscal contract' between the citizens and the state. In the state the people are sure that their lives and property are secure and that they are getting services in return for their money (taxes).

In Punjab alone, the government collects about 1 billion in agriculture income tax, where the potential is between 50-70 billion (p.7). Some experts say that the aid flow to Pakistan helped the government put off the required tax reforms and avoid the political costs of taxation (p. 7). Piracha is inspired by Robert Wade (1982), whose work is used as an approach to study the irrigation department in India.

The author says that Punjab has historically neglected raising its own source revenues (p. 19). One perspective is that the provincial government of Punjab does not commit adequate resources to digitalize property tax (p. 38). Further in the book the author discusses responsibilities of junior officer, channeling of taxes, district civil service cadre, global level institutional arrangements, initiation of NFC in 1951, government's financial accounting system, local banks, failure in the delivery of public services

Piracha is of the view that the rich including the industrialists show large chunks of their income as agricultural (p. 85). An oft-quoted quip in the civil service is that 'it is easier to fire the Prime Minister of Pakistan, than a peon in a government office' (p. 102). Other themes discussed in the book are bribes and hiring in Punjab, increase in reviews and monitoring missions by donors, ET and NCD hierarchy of Punjab, corruption, patronage, and the civil service.

The lower staff usually feels threatened by digitalization (p. 121). The constable usually introduces himself as 'tax officer' (p. 120). Piracha also writes about the difficulty in collecting full payments, different types of taxes based on location, examples from an established family of Lahore, lacking in the tax assessment, tax administration reform and corruption amongst the civil servants. The last line of the book says that 'a nation's real strength lies in socio-economic progress and the happiness of its people' (p. 185). 

Read More