# The Problems of Philosophy — Character guide

> Key figures in The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell.

- [Immanuel Kant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/kant_immanuel_kant.md): Kant arrives in Russell's argument at the moment the problem of a priori knowledge becomes acute: how can we know, before meeting them, that any two future Londoners plus two more will make four? His answer—that space, t
- [Descartes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/descartes.md): Descartes sets the tone for the whole inquiry: the opening question of whether any knowledge is certain enough that no reasonable man could doubt it is essentially his. His method of doubt turns the familiar table, the s
- [Bishop Berkeley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/bishop_berkeley.md): Berkeley holds that colours, sounds, and shapes cannot exist apart from a mind, since what we apprehend is always an 'idea.' Russell grants the force of the position and then locates its flaw: Berkeley confuses the act o
- [Plato](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/plato.md): Plato stands behind Russell's discussion of universals, the realm of abstract entities that mathematics and language seem to require. His vision of an open world of free possibilities—where much remains unknown because t
- [Socrates](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/socrates.md): Classical Greek philosopher referenced in discussions of universals.
- [Leibniz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/leibniz.md): Rationalist philosopher whose principle of sufficient reason is mentioned.
- [Hume](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/hume.md): Hume is the quiet destabilizer of the book's middle chapters: if all knowledge comes from experience, what justifies our confidence that the sun will rise tomorrow or that one event causes another? Russell treats Hume's 
- [Hegel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/hegel.md): German idealist philosopher briefly critiqued for his view of reality.
- [Charles I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/charles_i.md): English king used as an example of historical knowledge.
- [Bismarck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/bismarck.md): German statesman used as an example in knowledge by description.
- [Othello](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/othello.md): Shakespearean character used as an example of acquaintance.
- [Desdemona](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/desdemona.md): Shakespearean character used as an example of acquaintance.
- [Cassio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/cassio.md): Shakespearean character used as an example of acquaintance.
- [George IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/george_iv.md): British king used as an example in a logical puzzle.
- [Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/jones.md): Hypothetical person used in examples about knowledge.
- [Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/brown.md): Hypothetical person used in examples about knowledge.
- [Robinson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/robinson.md): Hypothetical person used in examples about knowledge.
- [Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/smith.md): Hypothetical person used in examples about knowledge.
- [Hylas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_problems_of_philosophy_se/characters/hylas.md): Fictional interlocutor in Berkeley's dialogues, referenced in discussion.

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