Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) was a British philosopher, mathematician,
essayist, and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950. In
addition to being one of the founding fathers of analytical philosophy, he was best known for his campaign against war, nuclear bombs and racial discrimination.
From the beginning to the end of his active life, Russell engaged himself with the great issues of his day. pacifism. right for women, civil liberty. trial marriage, new methods of education, the nuclear peril and war and peace, for he was at bottom a moralist and a humanist.
In the following rare 1959 interview from BBC’s 1959 Face to Face interview, Russell articulates in
just under two minutes one of the most important and admirable
aspirations we could hope to live up to, both individually and as a
society. Russell is asked to pass along
advice to a later generation. In just under two minutes he articulates with calm wisdom
two things: one intellectual and one moral that still resonates today and
cuts with clarity through our noisy world.
Interviewer:"'Suppose Lord Russell that this film were to be looked at by our descendants, like a dead sea scroll in a thousand years time. What would you think it’s worth telling that generation about the life you’ve lived and the lessons you’ve learned from it?'"
Russell:"I should like to say two things, one intellectual and one moral. The
intellectual thing I should want to say to them is this: When you are
studying any matter or considering any philosophy, ask yourself only
what are the facts and what is the truth that the facts bear out. Never
let yourself be diverted either by what you wish to believe, or by what
you think would have beneficent social effects if it were believed. But
look only, and solely, at what are the facts.
The moral thing I should wish to say to them is very simple. I should
say love is wise, hatred is foolish. In this world, which is getting
more and more interconnected, we have to learn to tolerate each other,
we have to learn to put up with the fact that some people say things
that we don’t like. We can only live together in that way. And if we are
to live together and not die together, we should learn the kind of
tolerance which is absolutely vital to the continuation of human life on
this planet. "
To summarize: Our decisions must be made on truth; not wishful thinking,
and we need to learn to be tolerant of people whom we disagree with or
we will end up destroying one another. It’s simple advice, and bloody easier said than done, but it bears
repeating.
We
must not give up on truth and tolerance. Because, as Russell mentions,
they are “absolutely vital” to society. Adhering to this advice is not a
passive process.
We must be critical of the messages we see on a daily basis, and resist the spread of messages that contain inaccuracies.
Here's two earlier messages from him :-
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