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Bertrand Russell - Philosophy, Ethics and LearningBertrand Russell - Philosophy, Ethics and Learning

 

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)

 

English philosopher (pictured right), mathematician and grandson of the British prime minister, Lord John Russell  

 

Bertrand Russell - Philosophy, Ethics and Learning

His most famous book is...

Principia Mathematica (1910)

(co-written with another English philosopher, Alfred North Whitehead (1861-1947) - pictured right).

 

What did he say about ethics and learning?

 Bertrand Russell - Philosophy, Ethics and Learning

1. Know what something really means

Think what words really mean before you use them.

This idea of Russell’s is now known as “analytic philosophy” and was used by a group of intellectuals called the Vienna Circle in the 1920’s and 30’s, led by Moritz Schlick (1882-1936) - pictured right.

They said you must prove the truth of anything by experience and observation (the “principle of verifiability”), later also adopted by Karl Popper (pictured right below).Bertrand Russell - Philosophy, Ethics and Learning

 

2. Question existing knowledge

 

a) never conceal the truth 

Accept truth and never fear it.

Bertrand Russell - Philosophy, Ethics and Learning 

b) support your beliefs with evidence and sound argument 

Never blindly accept what others believe or think.

“The stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt”, he said.

 

c) don’t be afraid to be different

(because all accepted beliefs were once considered to be false).

 Bertrand Russell - Philosophy, Ethics and Learning

3. Love learning

Be passionate about everything you do, particularly the search for knowledge.

He discovered his love for mathematics at the age of 11, and then philosophy took over in his 30’s.  

 

4. Don’t be self-centredBertrand Russell - Philosophy, Ethics and Learning

The happiest people:

  • forget themselves and their weaknesses.
  • love learning (see point 3)
  • give up some things they want. 
  • find joy in giving and receiving from friendships and helping others.

“The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge”, he said.

 

5. Live by your principles

Russell said three principles ruled his life:

  •  “the longing for love” Bertrand Russell - Philosophy, Ethics and Learning
  •  “the search for knowledge” 
  •  “unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind ”.

Do what you think is right (not what other people tell you) and have the courage to defend it.

He actively opposed nuclear weapons and war.

His opposition to the First World War led to his imprisonment and dismissal from his lecturer’s job at Cambridge.

 Bertrand Russell - Philosophy, Ethics and Learning

6. Relax

Your work is important but shouldn’t stop you taking time off.

Make sure you do something useful in your leisure (like education and the arts) , and this will help your work.

“Immense harm is caused by the belief that work is virtuous”, he said

 Bertrand Russell - Philosophy, Ethics and Learning

7. Overcome your problems

Difficulties, fear and despair are inevitable but overcoming them will give you happiness and peace of mind.

 

Key quotes on work and leisure

Immense harm is caused by the belief that work is virtuous

The morality of work is the morality of slaves

To be able to fill leisure intelligently is the last product of civilization.

 

Key quotes on change

The desire to understand the world and the desire to reform it are the two great engines of progress.

Change is indubitable, whereas progress is a matter of controversy.

 

Key quote on love

To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead.

 

Key quote on fear and anxiety

Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom

 

Key quote on influencing people

To save the world requires faith and courage: faith in reason and courage to proclaim what reason shows to be true.

 

Key quote on society

The only thing that will redeem mankind is co-operation.

 

Key quote on God and religion

The Christian religion ... has been and still is the principal enemy of moral progress in the world.

 

Key quote on happiness

Of all forms of caution, caution in love is perhaps the most fatal to true happiness.

The secret of happiness is this: let your interests be as wide as possible and let your reactions to the things and persons who interest you be as far as possible friendly rather than hostile.

 

Key quote on knowledge management

What men really want is not knowledge but certainty.

 

Key quote on ethics

We have, in fact, two kinds of morality side by side: one which we preach but do not practise, and another which we practise but seldom preach.

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