Bertrand Russell and the Nature of Propositions

This book offers the first defence of the Multiple Relation Theory of Judgement (MRTJ). Lebens reviews the historical story of the theory: What led Russell to deny the existence of propositions altogether? What role did G. F. Stout play in the evolution of the theory? What was Wittgenstein’s concern with the theory, and, if we can’t know what his concern was exactly, then what are the best contending hypotheses? And why did Russell give the theory up? Lebens makes the case that Russell’s concerns with the theory weren’t worth its rejection. Moreover, he argues that the MRTJ does most of what we could want from an account of propositions at little philosophical cost.