Russell and Wrinch I: Russell's Philosophy at a Crossroads

Abstract: Dorothy Wrinch (1894–1976) is now best known as a mathematical biologist, but she began her career as a set-theorist with strong (and general) philosophical interests. During the period 1916–21 she worked very closely with Russell—perhaps more closely and over a greater range of philosophical topics than anyone else during those years. In this paper I want to examine some of the philosophical issues that come to light in their correspondence, in particular those that relate to the change in Russell's philosophy that took place at this time. In a second paper, I will publish all that is known to survive of their correspondence together with some background biographical information.