The philosophers subscribing to the viewpoint of Logical Atomism believe that logical analysis is a method of discovery. According to Bertrand Russell, we can learn about the fundamental elements of the universe by using the technique of logical analysis.
The fundamental task before philosophy is the discovery of the basic elements of the universe and this is possible through analysis of the gross object.
The philosophers like Hegel, Bradley and Bosanquest do not accept the technique of logical analysis to be valid. According to them an object upon analysis ceases to be what it originally was; it is transformed into something else.
For example, if we analyze man into his limbs, this would be distortion. The man can exist as a totality only; his limbs have no existence apart from this totality. Therefore, according to them, we can understand things as a unity; apart from this unity they are not real but, merely appearances.
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Russell, however, rejects this line of argument and firmly believes in the efficacy of the logical analysis to reveal reality. It is, according to him, a most appropriate means of discovery. It may not be practically a very fertile method in philosophic inquiry; but, undoubtedly, there is no theoretic difficulty or problem in its application to philosophy.
The logical analysis is different from the physical or chemical analysis. David Hume also used the analytic method in his philosophy, but, his method was psychological and not logical. In psychological analysis we analyze memories, thoughts, emotions and such psychological processes, whereas, in logical analysis the objects of analysis are concepts and propositions.
The main object of logical analysis is the discovery of the fundamental elements of the universe and from this, it follows that logical atomist philosophy postulates the reality of the universe and the existence of facts therein.