Bertrand Russell, the great British philosopher and social critic, appeared on the BBC program Face-to-Face in 1959 and was asked a closing question: What would you tell a generation living 1,000 years from now about the life you’ve lived and the lessons you’ve learned. The video, found in our collection of 275Â Cultural Icons, gives you the rest…
Related Content:
Bertrand Russell & Other Big Thinkers in BBC Lecture Series (Free)
Download Free Courses from Famous Philosophers: From Bertrand Russell to Michel Foucault
I wonder if 1000 years from now the computers and robots listening to this message will find it funny.
Why would Bertrand Russell tell a listener 1000 years in the future the key to human survival in the modern age? If they exist to hear the message then they must already know much more about that subject than he ever could.
Tom, why would they know much more about the subject? Knowledge does not automatically increase with time. On the contrary, knowledge is a kind of power which is often demotivated or oppressed by those in possession of other kinds of power, such as political, economical, religious, etc. We need philosophers like Russell.
I completely agree with Russell, only I wish he had added something that I know he believed–namely that retributive
ethics is one of the main factors that is retarding civilization.
“Why would Bertrand Russell tell a listener 1000 years in the future the key to human survival in the modern age?”
Because he was asked to tell what lessons he had learned in his lifetime.
He had given it some thought I suspect.
I find it ironic that Raymond Smullyan agrees with Russell ‘completely’…but that’s just me, I’m a little slow.
Hope he doesn’t flame me for saying so!
Since posting my previous comment I have read Dr. Smullyan’s book ‘Who Knows ?’ and I understand a little more of what he means by ‘retributive ethics’ and why he ‘completely’ agrees with Russells message.
What a wonderful and inspiring book!
And such a beautiful mind that produced it!
I’ve just started another of his books ‘ A Spiritual Journey – Reflections on the Philosophy of Religion, A Transcendental Journey, and Cosmic Conciousness Redux’ and have been viewing his musical performances on youtube.
A treasure indeed!