The life of Russell Bertrand is almost a century-old history of Europe. He was born during the heyday of the British Empire, witnessed two world wars, revolutions, saw the colonial system become obsolete, and lived to see the era of nuclear weapons.
Today he is known as an outstanding philosopher. Quotes from Russell Bertrand can often be found both in scientific works and in ordinary journalism. The head of the British philosophy of subjective idealism, the founder of English realism and neopositivism, the author of The History of Western Philosophy, a logician, mathematician, public figure, organizer of the British anti-war movement and the Pugwash conferences. It seems that he managed everywhere, even though he lived far from the easiest time:
On the one hand, I wanted to find out whether cognition is possible, and on the other, to do everything in my power to create a happier world. (B. Russell)
These were his life goals, with which he was determined as a child. And Bertrand Russell reached them.
Real aristocrat
The philosopher was a native of an old family of aristocrats, politicians and scientists, who took an active part (especially political) in the life of the country since the XVI century. The most famous member of the family was John Russell (Bertrand's grandfather), who twice stood at the head of Queen Victoria’s government.
Bertrand Russell was born on 05/18/1872 in the family of Viscount Amberley and Catherine Russell. But it so happened that already in four years he became an orphan. After Bertrand's parents died, his elder brother Frank and sister Rachel were taken to their grandmother (Countess Russell). She strictly adhered to Puritan views.
From an early age, Bertrand began to show a keen interest in natural science (while he was interested in all areas of this science). Usually he spent his free time reading books. It is good that the seed had a large library (at the Pembroke Lodge estate), and the boy had something to please himself.
Youth
In 1889, Bertrand Russell entered Trinity College Cambridge. In his second year, he was elected to the Apostles discussion society. It consisted not only of students, but also of teachers. With some members of society (including J. Moore, J. McTaggart), Russell later began to cooperate fruitfully.
As the son of the Lord, one of the most influential families of Bertrand was appointed British diplomatic representative in Berlin and Paris. While in Germany, he began to study German philosophy, the legacy of Marx, communicated with famous socialists of that time. He liked the ideas of left reformism. They represented a gradual reorganization of the state in the best traditions of democratic socialism.
Only dates
In 1896, the world saw Russell's first significant work, German Social Democracy. In the same year he returned to England and received the post of lecturer at the London School of Economics.
In 1900, takes an active part in the World Philosophical Congress (France, Paris). In 1903, together with Whitehead, he published the book Principles of Mathematics, due to which he received international recognition. In 1908 he became a member of the Royal and Fabian Societies.
During the First World War, he became a hostage to socio-political problems of a philosophical nature. He thought a lot about war and peace, and while England was preparing to take part in the battles, Russell was imbued with the spirit of pacifism. In 1916 he published a pamphlet urging him to renounce conscription; later he openly expressed this idea in the Times newspaper, for which he was convicted.
Imprisonment
1917 - publishes the book Political Ideals. He believed that true democracy must be guided by socialism. 01/03/1918, he writes an article "The German proposal for peace", in which he condemns the policy of the Bolsheviks, Lenin and America's entry into the war. 1918 - Bertrand Russell was imprisoned in Brixton prison for six months.
Travel time
At one time, the philosopher visited Soviet Russia and China. In May 1920, he was an honored guest in the Soviet Republic, where he spent a whole month. In October of that year, the "Society of New Scientists" invited Bertrand to China, where he stayed until June 1921. In 1920, the Bertrand Russell Society was created at Peking University, and they began publishing the Russell Monthly. His philosophical ideas had a strong influence on youth.
Family life
In 1921, Russell marries (this is the second marriage) to Dora Winifred, who accompanied him to Russia. In this marriage two children were born. The union with the first wife Alice was childless. It was then that he began to get involved in pedagogy, to study innovative methods of education. While in this environment for a long time, he wrote the book “Marriage and Morality” in 1929 (Bertrand Russell). Three years later, another thematic work was published - Education and the Social System. Together with his wife, he opened the Bacon Hill School, which lasted until the start of the war.
For the book “Marriage and Morality, ” Bertrand Russell received the Nobel Prize in Literature.
True, this happened only 20 years later, since his pedagogical ideas were not accepted by contemporaries. In the book of Bertrand Russell, “Marriage and Morality, ” it is described that students should have greater freedom of expression, they need to be educated without coercion, children should not know feelings of fear and “be citizens of the universe.” Russell insisted that children should not be divided by social status and origin, everyone should be treated equally.
Works, works, works
In 1924, Russell published the Icarus brochure, which warned of the dangers that lurk in the rampant growth of knowledge and technological progress. Only 30 years later, it became clear that Bertrand's worst fears became a reality.
Bertrand, like many prominent figures of his time, left behind his autobiography. There he mentioned that he dedicated his whole life to making people reconcile with each other. The philosopher has always tried to unite and coordinate the desires of people, to save humanity from the threat of death and inglorious extinction. During this period he writes books:
- “Prospects for industrial civilization” (1923);
- “Education and Welfare” (1926);
- “The conquest of happiness” (1930th);
- The Origin of Fascism (1935);
- “Which path leads to peace?” (1936th);
- “Power: A New Social Analysis” (1938).
"No!" pacifism
In the 1930s, Bertrand worked as a lecturer at the Universities of Chicago and California. After the elder brother died, he inherited the family title, and became the third Earl Russell.
The outbreak of World War II raised doubts in Russell regarding the appropriateness of pacifism. After Hitler captured Poland, Bertrand abandoned this ideology, now he advocates the creation of a military alliance between England and the United States. In this difficult time for the whole world, he publishes The Study of Meaning and Truth (1940), and five years later he publishes The History of Western Philosophy. Bertrand Russell gained fame precisely thanks to this work. In the United States, this book has made it onto the bestseller list several times, and is popular not only among specialists, but also among ordinary readers.
In 1944 he returned to England and became a teacher at Trinity College, from where he was fired for his anti-militant speeches during the First World War. Thanks to active social activities (despite his considerable age - 70 years) he became one of the most famous British.
Work and the last years of life
Over his life, Russell has written many works. Among them:
- “Philosophy and Politics” (1947);
- "Springs of human activity" (1952);
- “Human knowledge. Its scope and borders ”(1948);
- “Power and personality” (1949);
- “The impact of science on society” (1951).
Russell opposed nuclear weapons, supported Czechoslovak reform, and was adamant when it came to war. He was respected by ordinary people, people enthusiastically read his new works and listened to performances on the radio. To reduce respect, the West began to make sharp attacks against the famous anti-militarist. Until the end of his days, Russell had to endure a variety of hints and statements. Most often said that "the old man has survived from the mind." In one of the most reputable newspapers there was even an insulting article. However, his social activities completely refuted these rumors. The philosopher died of influenza in Wales in 1970 (February 2).
Outstanding work
Bertrand Russell's most famous work is The History of Western Philosophy. The entire book is called "The History of Western Philosophy and its Connection with Political and Social Conditions from Antiquity to the Present Day." This book is often used in higher education as a textbook. The work of Bertrand Russell ("History of Western Philosophy") is a summary of Western philosophy from the pre-Socratics to the beginning of the twentieth century.
It is worth noting that the content of the book includes not only philosophy. The author analyzes the relevant eras and historical context. This book has been criticized more than once due to the fact that the writer too generalized some areas (and some were completely excluded), and yet it was reprinted several times, and gave Russell financial independence for life.
Content
Bertrand Russell wrote his History of Philosophy when World War II thundered in explosions. It was based on the lectures that he once gave in Philadelphia (this was in 1941-1942). The work itself is divided into three books, consisting of sections, each of which is dedicated to a period of school or a philosopher.
The first book of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell is dedicated to Ancient Philosophy. The first section talks about the pre-Socratics. The author mentions such ancient philosophers as Thales, Heraclitus, Empedocles, Anaximander, Pythagoras, Protagoras, Democritus, Anaximenes, Anaxagoras, Leacippus and Parmenides.
Separately allocated section for Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. And also, Aristotle's philosophy is considered separately, including all his followers, Cynics, Stoics, skeptics, Epicureans and Neoplatonists.
Religion is indispensable.
A separate book is devoted to Catholic philosophy. There are only two main sections: the fathers of the church and the scholastics. In the first section, the author mentions the development of Jewish and Islamic philosophy. Special attention is paid to the contribution to the development of philosophical and theological thought of St. Ambrose, St. Jerome, St. Benedict and Pope Gregory the First.
In the second section, in addition to the famous scholastics, he mentions the theologian Eriugen and Thomas Aquinas.
Essay
Biographers believe that the author of the essay entitled “Why am I not a Christian?” Inspired the writing of this section of the author. Bertrand Russell wrote it back in 1927 based on one of the lectures. The work begins with the definition of the term "Christian." Based on this, Russell begins to explain why he does not believe in God, immortality, and Christ does not consider the greatest and wisest among people.
If I assume that between the Earth and Mars, a porcelain teapot flies in an elliptical orbit around the Sun, no one can refute my statement, especially if I prudently add that the teapot is so small that it is not visible even by powerful telescopes. But if I then said that since my statement could not be refuted, then the human mind was inadmissible to doubt it, my words should have been justifiably considered nonsense. Nevertheless, if the existence of such a teapot would be affirmed in ancient books, memorized as holy truth every Sunday, and be besieged in the minds of schoolchildren, then doubt about its existence would be a sign of eccentricity and would attract the doubted attention of a psychiatrist in the era of enlightenment or the inquisitor in earlier times. (B. Russell)
After this, the author begins to consider the arguments that confirm the existence of God. He investigated this question from the point of view of cosmology, theology, natural law and morality.
After all that has been said, it casts doubt on the historical facts of the existence of Christ, as well as religious morality. Russell insists that religion, in the form in which it is represented in churches, has always been, is and will be the main enemy of moral progress. Horror before the unknown is what lies at the heart of faith, according to Russell:
Religion is based, in my opinion, first of all and mainly on fear. Part of it is the horror of the unknown, and part, as I have already pointed out, is the desire to feel that you have a kind of older brother who will stand up for you in all troubles and misadventures. A good world needs knowledge, kindness, and courage; he does not need the mournful regret of the past or the slavish constraint of a free mind with words that were ignored by ignorant people in the past. (B. Russell)
Book Three
Bertrand Russell's third book, The Stories, deals with the philosophy of the New Age. The first section of the book is dedicated to the philosophy that existed from the Renaissance to David Hume. Here, the author paid attention to Machiavelli, Eramz, T. More, F. Bacon, Hobbes, Spinoza, Berkeley, Leibniz and Hume.
The second section traces the development of philosophy from the time of Rousseau to the middle of the twentieth century. The author mentions philosophers such as Kant, Russo, Hegel, Boyron, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Bergson, Marx, John Dewey and William James. Also, Russell did not forget to write about utilitarians, giving them a whole separate chapter.
But the most interesting is the last section of the book. It is called the Philosophy of Logical Analysis. Here Russell describes his views and thoughts regarding the development of history and the appropriateness of the existence of a particular direction.
Reaction
The author himself speaks of his book as follows:
I considered the initial parts of my History of Western Philosophy as the history of culture, but in the following parts, where science becomes important, it is much more difficult to fit into this framework. I did everything I could, but I'm not sure I succeeded. Reviewers sometimes accused me of writing not a real story, but a biased presentation of the events that I myself chose. But, from my point of view, a person who does not have his own opinion cannot write an interesting story - if such a person exists at all. (B. Russell)
Indeed, the reaction to his book was mixed, especially from academics. The English philosopher Roger Vernon Skruton believed that this book was witty and elegantly written. However, it has drawbacks, for example, the author did not fully understand Kant, paid too much attention to pre-Cartesian philosophy, summarized too many important things, and omitted something altogether. Russell himself said that his book is a work on social history, and wanted to be classified in this way, and nothing else.
Way to the truth
Another book worth paying attention to is the “Problems of Philosophy” by Bertrand Russell, written in 1912. This work can be attributed to the early ones, and if this is so, then philosophy itself is considered here as a correct logical analysis of the language. One of the most important qualities of this science is its ability to level out any paradoxes, but in general it deals with problems not yet mastered by science.
Moral philosopher
It is worth noting that Russell’s aesthetic, social and political developments were closely interconnected with his logic, metaphysics, epistemology and philosophy of language. We can say that the entire philosopher’s legacy is a universalist approach to all issues. He was known in science as a moralist, but such a reputation in philosophy did not entail him. In short, the ideas of ethics and morality in combination with other doctrines strongly influenced the logical positivists who formulated the theory of emotivism. Simply put, they stated that ethical grounds are meaningless, at best this is a common manifestation of relationships and differences. Russell believed that ethical foundations were vital subjects of civic discourse.
In his works, he condemns the ethics of war, religious morality, morality, speaks of emotive concepts and ontology. Russell can be considered the pioneer of the basic forms of ethical anti-realism: the theory of error and emotivism. In philosophy, he defended the most diverse versions of metaethics, although he did not present in full any of the theories.
In general, Russell rejects the selfish theory of morality. He studied history and makes strong arguments regarding the fact that ethical foundations had two sources: political and interested in all kinds of condemnation (personal, moral, religious). If civil ethics did not exist, then the community would perish, but without the existence of personal ethics, the existence of such a society is of no value.
